Flexible display device

ABSTRACT

A flexible display device may include a display panel providing a base surface and a touch screen disposed on the base surface. The display panel may include a plurality of light emitting areas and a non-light emitting area disposed adjacent to the light emitting areas. A plurality of touch electrodes and a plurality of insulating layers of the touch screen may have a mesh shape through which openings corresponding to the plurality of light emitting areas are defined. Accordingly, a flexibility of the flexible display device is improved, and the touch electrode is prevented from being cracked.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from and the benefit of Korean PatentApplications Nos. 10-2015-0091392, filed on Jun. 26, 2015,10-2015-0163510, filed on Nov. 20, 2015, 10-2015-0187755, filed on Dec.28, 2015, 10-2016-0002740, filed on Jan. 8, 2016, 10-2016-0008200, filedon Jan. 22, 2016, and 10-2016-0008197, filed on Jan. 22, 2016, all ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fullyset forth herein.

BACKGROUND

Field

Exemplary embodiments relate to a flexible display device. Moreparticularly, the present disclosure relates to a flexible displaydevice including functional members integrally formed in the flexibledisplay device.

Discussion of the Background

Electronic devices, such as a smart phone, digital camera, notebookcomputer, navigation unit, and smart television set, have beendeveloped. Each electronic device may include a display device toprovide information.

In recent years, since electronic devices come in a variety of shapes, ashape of the display device is changed to correspond to the shapes ofthe electronic devices. The electronic devices generally include a flatpanel display device. However, these electronic devices refrain havingcurved, bent, rollable display devices.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only forenhancement of understanding of the background of the inventive concept,and, therefore, it may contain information that does not form the priorart that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skillin the art.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments provide a flexible display device having improvedflexibility.

Additional aspects will be set forth in the detailed description whichfollows, and, in part, will be apparent from the disclosure, or may belearned by practice of the inventive concept.

An exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept provides a flexibledisplay device including a display panel providing a base surface andincluding a plurality of light emitting areas and a non-light emittingarea disposed adjacent to the plurality of light emitting areas and atouch screen disposed on the base surface. The touch screen includes aplurality of first conductive patterns, a first insulating layer, aplurality of second conductive patterns, and a second insulating layer.The plurality of first conductive patterns are disposed on the basesurface and overlapped with the non-light emitting area. The firstinsulating layer is disposed on the base surface, covers the pluralityof first conductive patterns, and includes a plurality of first openingsdefined to correspond to the plurality of light emitting areas. Theplurality of second conductive patterns are disposed on the firstinsulating layer and overlapped with the non-light emitting area. Thesecond insulating layer is disposed on the first insulating layer,covers the plurality of second conductive patterns, and includes aplurality of second openings defined to correspond to the plurality oflight emitting areas.

An exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept provide a flexibledisplay device including a display panel providing a base surface andincluding a plurality of light emitting areas and a non-light emittingarea disposed adjacent to the plurality of light emitting areas and atouch screen disposed on the base surface. The touch screen includes aplurality of first conductive patterns disposed on the base surface andoverlapped with the non-light emitting area, a first black matrixdisposed on the base surface, covering the plurality of first conductivepatterns, and including a plurality of first openings defined tocorrespond to the plurality of light emitting areas, a plurality ofcolor filters each being disposed inside a corresponding first openingamong the plurality of first openings, an insulating layer disposed onthe first black matrix and the plurality of color filters and overlappedwith the plurality of light emitting areas and the non-light emittingarea, and a plurality of second conductive patterns disposed on theinsulating layer and overlapped with the non-light emitting area.

An exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept provides a flexibledisplay device including a display panel providing a base surface andincluding a plurality of light emitting areas and a non-light emittingarea disposed adjacent to the plurality of light emitting areas and atouch screen disposed on the base surface. The touch screen includes aplurality of first conductive patterns disposed on the base surface andoverlapped with the non-light emitting area, a plurality of colorfilters disposed on the base surface, a plurality of second conductivepatterns disposed on the plurality of color filters and overlapped withthe non-light emitting area, and a black matrix overlapped with thenon-light emitting area.

An exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept provides a flexibledisplay device including a display panel providing a base surface andincluding a plurality of light emitting areas and a non-light emittingarea disposed adjacent to the plurality of light emitting areas and atouch screen disposed on the base surface. The touch screen includes anoise shielding conductive layer disposed on the base surface andoverlapped with the non-light emitting area, a first insulating layerdisposed on the base surface and covering the noise shielding conductivelayer, a plurality of first conductive patterns disposed on the firstinsulating layer and overlapped with a portion of the noise shieldingconductive layer, a second insulating layer disposed on the firstinsulating layer, a plurality of second conductive patterns disposed onthe second insulating layer and overlapped with a portion of the noiseshielding conductive layer, and a third insulating layer disposed on thesecond insulating layer.

An exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept provide a flexibledisplay device including a display panel providing a base surface andincluding a plurality of light emitting areas and a non-light emittingarea disposed adjacent to the plurality of light emitting areas and atouch screen disposed on the base surface. The touch screen may includea base member, a plurality of first conductive patterns disposed on thebase member and overlapped with a portion of the noise shieldingconductive layer, a first insulating layer disposed on the base memberto cover the first conductive patterns. A plurality of second conductivepatterns disposed on the first insulating layer and overlapped with aportion of the noise shielding conductive layer, and a second insulatinglayer disposed on the first insulating layer.

The foregoing general description and the following detailed descriptionare exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the inventive concept, and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplaryembodiments of the inventive concept, and, together with thedescription, serve to explain principles of the inventive concept.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a flexible display device in afirst operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a flexible display device in asecond operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing a flexible display device in afirst operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing a flexible display device in asecond operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a flexible display panel accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing a pixel according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a portion of an organic light emittingdisplay panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views showing an organic lightemitting display panel according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are cross-sectional views showing a thin filmencapsulation layer according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views showing a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are plan views showing conductive layers of a touchscreen according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10A is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “AA” of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 10A alongsectional line I to I′.

FIG. 11A is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “BB” of FIG. 9B.

FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 11A alongsectional line II to II′.

FIG. 12A is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “CC” of FIGS. 9Aand 9B.

FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 12A alongsectional line III to III′.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are cross-sectional views showing a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure alongsectional line I-I′ of FIG. 10A.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are plan views showing conductive layers of a touchscreen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14C is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “DD” of FIGS.14A and 14B.

FIG. 14D is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 14C alongsectional line IV-IV′.

FIG. 14E is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “DD” of FIGS.14A and 14B.

FIG. 14F is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 14E alongsectional line IV″-IV′″.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are plan views showing conductive layers of a touchscreen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16A is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “EE” of FIGS.15A and 15B.

FIG. 16B is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 16A.

FIGS. 16C and 16D are cross-sectional views showing a portion of FIG.16A along lines V to V′ and VI to VI′ of FIG. 16A, respectively.

FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C, 17D, and 17E are cross-sectional views showing adisplay device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure along sectional line I to I′ of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure alongsectional line II to II′ of FIG. 11A.

FIGS. 19A and 19B are cross-sectional views showing a portion of adisplay device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure along sectional line I-I′ of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure alongsectional line VI-VI′ of FIG. 16A.

FIGS. 21A, 21B, and 21C are cross-sectional views showing a portion of adisplay device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 22A, 22B, 22C, and 22D are cross-sectional views showing a portionof a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure alongsectional line III to III; of FIG. 12A.

FIGS. 24A and 24B are plan views showing conductive layers of a touchscreen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 25A and 25B are plan views showing conductive layers of a touchscreen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 25C is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “FF” of FIGS.25A and 25B.

FIG. 25D is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 25C alongsectional line VII-VII′.

FIG. 26A is a partially enlarged view showing a portion of a displaydevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 26B, 26C, 26D, and 26E are cross-sectional views showing a portionof a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 27A is a partially enlarged view showing a portion of a displaydevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 27B, 27C, 27D, and 27E are cross-sectional views showing a portionof a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 28A is a partially enlarged view showing a display device accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 28B is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 28A alongsectional line X-X′.

FIGS. 29A and 29B are cross-sectional views showing a portion of adisplay device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure along sectional line VI-VI′ of FIG. 16A.

FIG. 30A is a cross-sectional view showing a flexible display device ina first operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 30B is a cross-sectional view showing a flexible display device ina second operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 30C, 30D, and 30E are cross-sectional views showing a displaydevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 31A, 31B, 31C, and 31D are cross-sectional views showing a displaydevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 32A and 32B are plan views showing conductive layers of a touchscreen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 32C and 32D are plan views showing a noise shielding conductivelayer of a touch screen according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 33A is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “GG” of FIG.32A.

FIGS. 33B, 33C, 33D, 33E, 33F, 33G, 33H, 33I, and 33J arecross-sectional views showing a portion of FIG. 33A according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 34A is a partially enlarged view of a portion “HH” of FIG. 32B.

FIG. 34B is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 34Aaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure alongsectional line XII-XII′.

FIG. 35A is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “JJ” of FIGS.32A and 32B.

FIG. 35B is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 35A alongsectional line XIII-XIII′.

FIGS. 36A and 36B are plan views showing conductive layers of a touchscreen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 36C is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “MM” of FIGS.36A and 36B.

FIG. 36D is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 36C alongsectional line XIV-XIV′.

FIGS. 37A and 37B are plan views showing conductive layers of a touchscreen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 38A is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “NN” of FIGS.37A and 37B.

FIG. 38B is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 38A.

FIGS. 38C and 38D are partially cross-sectional views of FIG. 38A alongsectional lines XV-XV′ and XVI-XVI′, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of various exemplary embodiments. It is apparent, however,that various exemplary embodiments may be practiced without thesespecific details or with one or more equivalent arrangements. In otherinstances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagramform in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring various exemplaryembodiments.

In the accompanying figures, the size and relative sizes of layers,films, panels, regions, etc., may be exaggerated for clarity anddescriptive purposes. Also, like reference numerals denote likeelements.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,”or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on,connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer or interveningelements or layers may be present. When, however, an element or layer isreferred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or“directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are no interveningelements or layers present. For the purposes of this disclosure, “atleast one of X, Y, and Z” and “at least one selected from the groupconsisting of X, Y, and Z” may be construed as X only, Y only, Z only,or any combination of two or more of X, Y, and Z, such as, for instance,XYZ, XYY, YZ, and ZZ. As used herein, the term “and/or” may include anyand all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein todescribe various elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections,these elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections should notbe limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish oneelement, component, region, layer, and/or section from another element,component, region, layer, and/or section. Thus, a first element,component, region, layer, and/or section discussed below could be termeda second element, component, region, layer, and/or section withoutdeparting from the teachings of the present disclosure.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,”“upper,” and the like, may be used herein for descriptive purposes, and,thereby, to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the drawings. Spatiallyrelative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of anapparatus in use, operation, and/or manufacture in addition to theorientation depicted in the drawings. For example, if the apparatus inthe drawings is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath”other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the otherelements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompassboth an orientation of above and below. Furthermore, the apparatus maybe otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at otherorientations), and, as such, the spatially relative descriptors usedherein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms, “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Moreover,the terms “comprises,” comprising,” “may include,” and/or “including,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one ormore other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof.

Various exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference tosectional illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealizedexemplary embodiments and/or intermediate structures. As such,variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, forexample, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to beexpected. Thus, exemplary embodiments disclosed herein should not beconstrued as limited to the particular illustrated shapes of regions,but are to include deviations in shapes that result from, for instance,manufacturing. For example, an implanted region illustrated as arectangle will, typically, have rounded or curved features and/or agradient of implant concentration at its edges rather than a binarychange from implanted to non-implanted region. Likewise, a buried regionformed by implantation may result in some implantation in the regionbetween the buried region and the surface through which the implantationtakes place. Thus, the regions illustrated in the drawings are schematicin nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actualshape of a region of a device and are not intended to be limiting.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure is a part. Terms,such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should beinterpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning inthe context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in anidealized or overly formal sense, unless expressly so defined herein.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a flexible display device DD in afirst operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a flexible displaydevice DD in a second operation according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing aflexible display device DD in a first operation according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2B is across-sectional view showing a flexible display device DD in a secondoperation according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

A display surface IS on which an image IM is displayed may besubstantially parallel to a plane defined by a first directional axisDR1 and a second directional axis DR2. A normal line direction of thedisplay surface IS, i.e., a thickness direction of the flexible displaydevice DD, indicates a third directional axis DR3. Front (or upper) andrear (or lower) surfaces of each member of the flexible display deviceDD are distinct from each other by the third directional axis DR3.However, directions indicated by the first, second, and thirddirectional axes DR1, DR2, and DR3 are relative to each other and may bechanged to different directions. Hereinafter, first, second, and thirddirections indicated by the first, second, and third directional axesDR1, DR2, and DR3 are assigned with the same reference numerals as thoseof the first, second, and third directional axes DR1, DR2, and DR3.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B show a foldable display device as arepresentative example of the flexible display device DD, but theflexible display device DD is not limited to the foldable displaydevice. That is, the flexible display device DD may be a curved flexibledisplay device or a rollable flexible display device, which has apredetermined curvature, but is not limited thereto. Although not shownseparately, the flexible display device DD according to the presentexemplary embodiment may be applied to a large-sized electronic item,such as a television set, a monitor, etc., and a small and medium-sizedelectronic item, such as a mobile phone, a tablet, a car navigationunit, a game unit, a smart watch, etc.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the display surface IS of the flexible displaydevice DD may include a plurality of areas. The flexible display deviceDD may include a display area DD-DA in which the image IM is displayedand a non-display area DD-NDA may be disposed adjacent to the displayarea DD-DA. The non-display area DD-NDA does not display an image. FIG.1A shows a vase as the image IM. As an example, the display area DD-DAhas a substantially quadrangular shape. The non-display area DD-NDA maysurround the display area DD-DA, but it is not limited thereto. Theshape of the display area DD-DA and the shape of the non-display areaNDA may be relative to each other.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the display device DD may include a bendingarea BA bent on the basis of a bending axis BX, a first non-bending areaNBA1 that is not bent, and a second non-bending area NBA2 that is notbent. The display device DD may be inwardly bent (hereinafter, referredto as “inner-bending”) in such a manner as to allow the display surfaceIS of the first non-bending area NBA1 to face the display surface IS ofthe second non-bending area NBA1. The display device DD may be outwardlybent (hereinafter, referred to as “outer-bending”) in accordance with auser's operation in such a manner as to allow the display surface IS tobe exposed to the outside.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the display device DD may include aplurality of bending areas BA. Further, the bending area BA may bedefined corresponding to the user's operation. Different from FIG. 1B,the bending area BA may be defined to be substantially parallel to thefirst directional axis DR1 or to be substantially parallel to a diagonalline. The bending area BA may have a size determined by a bending radiusBR (see to FIG. 2B).

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the display device DD may include adisplay panel DP, a touch screen TS, and a window member WM. Each of thedisplay panel DP, the touch screen TS, and the window member WM may havea flexibility. Although not shown in figures, the display device DDaccording to the present exemplary embodiment may further include aprotective member coupled to the window member WM to protect the displaypanel DP and the touch screen TS. The display panel DP may generate theimage IM (see to FIG. 1A) corresponding to image data input thereto. Thedisplay panel DP may be an organic light emitting display panel, anelectrophoretic display panel, or an electrowetting display panel, butis not limited thereto. In the present exemplary embodiment, the organiclight emitting display panel will be described as the display panel DP.The organic light emitting display panel will be described in detaillater.

The touch screens TS may obtain coordinate information of an externalinput. The touch screen TS may be disposed on a base surface provided bythe display panel DP. In the present exemplary embodiment, the touchscreen TS is manufactured with the display panel DP through consecutiveprocesses.

The touch screen TS may be an electrostatic capacitive type touchscreen, but it is not limited thereto. That is, the touch screen TS maybe replaced with a touch screen including two types of touch electrodesas an electromagnetic induction type touch screen, or other type oftouch screen.

The window member WM may be coupled to the touch screen TS by anoptically clear adhesive (OCA) film. The window member WM may include abase member WM-BS and a bezel layer WM-BZ. The base member MW-BS mayinclude a plastic film. The bezel layer WM-BZ may partially overlap withthe base member WM-BS. The bezel layer WM-BZ may be disposed on a rearsurface of the base member WM-BS to define a bezel area of the displaydevice DD, i.e., the non-display area NDA (see to FIG. 1A). The bezellayer WM-BZ may be a colored organic layer and may be formed by acoating method.

Although not shown separately, the window member WM may further includea function coating layer disposed on an entire surface of the basemember WM-BS. The function coating layer may include an anti-fingerprintlayer, an anti-reflection layer, and a hard coating layer.

Although not shown separately, in the display device DD according to thepresent exemplary embodiment, the window member WM may be integrallycoupled to the touch screen TS or the display panel DP. The OCA film maybe omitted, and a coating layer may be formed on the touch screen TS orthe display panel DP instead of the base member WM-BS.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a flexible display panel DPaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG.4 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing a pixel according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, the organiclight emitting display panel will be described as the display panel DP.

The organic light emitting display panel DP may include a display areaDA and a non-display area NDA. The display area DA and the non-displayarea NDA of the organic light emitting display panel DP are notnecessarily the same as the display area DD-DA and the non-display areaDD-NDA of the display device DD, defined by the bezel layer WM-BZ, andmay be changed in accordance with the structure and design of theorganic light emitting display panel DP.

As shown in FIG. 3, the organic light emitting display panel DP mayinclude a plurality of pixels PX arranged in the display area DA. InFIG. 3, the pixels PX are arranged in a matrix form, but they are notlimited thereto. That is, the pixels PX may be arranged in a non-matrixform, i.e., a pentile form.

FIG. 4 shows the equivalent circuit of one pixel PXij connected to ani-th scan line SLi and a j-th source line DLj. Although not shown infigures, the pixels PX may have the same equivalent circuit.

The pixel PXij may include at least one transistor TR1 and TR2, at leastone capacitor Cap, and at least one organic light emitting device OLED.In the present exemplary embodiment, a pixel driving circuit includingtwo transistors TR1 and TR2 and one capacitor Cap is shown as arepresentative example, but a circuit configuration of the pixel drivingcircuit is not limited thereto.

The organic light emitting device OLED may include an anode receiving afirst power source voltage ELVDD applied to a power source line PLthrough a second transistor TR2. The organic light emitting device OLEDmay include a cathode receiving a second power source voltage ELVSS. Afirst transistor TR1 may output a data signal applied to the j-th sourceline DLj in response to a scan signal applied to the i-th scan line SLi.The capacitor Cap may be charged with a voltage corresponding to thedata signal provided from the first transistor TR1. The secondtransistor TR2 may control a driving current flowing through the organiclight emitting device OLED in response to the voltage charged in thecapacitor Cap.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a portion of an organic light emittingdisplay panel DP according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, and FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views showing anorganic light emitting display panel DP according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 shows a portion of thedisplay area DA (see FIG. 3). FIG. 6A shows the cross-sectional viewcorresponding to the first transistor TR1 and the capacitor Cap of theequivalent circuit diagram shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6B shows thecross-sectional view corresponding to the second transistor TR2 and theorganic light emitting device OLED of the equivalent circuit diagramshown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 5, the organic light emitting display panel DP mayinclude a plurality of light emitting areas PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B anda non-light emitting area NPXA on a plane defined by the firstdirectional axis DR1 and the second directional axis DR2. FIG. 5 showsthree types of light emitting areas PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B arranged ina matrix form. Three organic light emitting devices emitting lightshaving different colors may be respectively disposed in the three lightemitting areas PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B.

In the present exemplary embodiment, organic light emitting devicesemitting a white light may be respectively disposed in the three lightemitting areas PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B. In this case, three colorfilters having different colors may be disposed to respectively overlapwith the three light emitting areas PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B.

In the following description, the expression “the light emitting areaemits light having a predetermined color” used hereinafter means thatnot only that the light emitting area emits light generated by acorresponding light emitting device without converting the light, butalso that the light emitting area emits light generated by thecorresponding light emitting device after converting the color of thelight generated by the corresponding light emitting device. In thepresent exemplary embodiment, the light emitting areas PXA-R, PXA-G, andPXA-B may include four or more types of light emitting areas. Thenon-light emitting area NPXA may include a first non-light emitting areaNPXA-1 surrounding the light emitting areas PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B anda second non-light emitting area NPXA-2 defining a boundary of the firstnon-light emitting areas NPXA-1. Each of the first non-light emittingareas NPXA-1 may include a driving circuit of a corresponding pixel,e.g., transistors TR1 and TR2 (see to FIG. 4) or the capacitor Cap (seeFIG. 4). Signal lines, e.g., the scan line SLi (see FIG. 4), the sourceline DLj (see FIG. 4), and the power source line PL (see FIG. 4), etc.,may be disposed in the second non-light emitting area NPXA-2. However,the first non-light emitting areas NPXA-1 and the second non-lightemitting area NPXA-2 may not be distinct from each other according toexemplary embodiments.

Although not shown in figures, according to the present exemplaryembodiment, each of the light emitting areas PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B hasa shape similar to a rhombus. According to the present exemplaryembodiment, organic light emitting devices emitting lights havingdifferent four colors are respectively disposed in four light emittingareas different from each other.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the organic light emitting display panelDP may include a base substrate SUB, a circuit layer DP-CL, an organiclight emitting device layer DP-OLED, and a thin film encapsulation layerTFE. The circuit layer DP-CL may include a plurality of conductivelayers and a plurality of insulating layers, and the organic lightemitting device layer DP-OLED may include a plurality of conductivelayers and a plurality of functional organic layers. The thin filmencapsulation layer TFE may include a plurality of organic layers and/ora plurality of inorganic layers.

The base substrate SUB may be a flexible substrate and may include aplastic substrate formed of polyimide, a glass substrate, or a metalsubstrate. A semiconductor pattern AL1 (hereinafter, referred to as “afirst semiconductor pattern”) of the first transistor TR1 and asemiconductor pattern AL2 (hereinafter, referred to as “a secondsemiconductor pattern”) of the second transistor TR2 may be disposed onthe base substrate SUB. The first and second semiconductor patterns AL1and AL2 may include amorphous silicon formed at a low temperature. Inaddition, the first and second semiconductor patterns AL1 and AL2 mayinclude a metal oxide semiconductor. Although not shown in figures,functional layers may be further disposed on a surface of the basesubstrate SUB. The functional layers may include at least one of abarrier layer and a buffer layer. The first and second semiconductorpatterns AL1 and AL2 may be disposed on the barrier layer or the bufferlayer.

A first insulating layer 12 may be disposed on the base substrate SUB tocover the first and second semiconductor patterns AL1 and AL2. The firstinsulating layer 12 may include an organic layer and/or an inorganiclayer. In particular, the first insulating layer 12 may include aplurality of inorganic thin film layers. The inorganic thin film layersmay include a silicon nitride layer and a silicon oxide layer.

A control electrode GE1 (hereinafter, referred to as “a first controlelectrode”) of the first transistor TR1 and a control electrode GE2(hereinafter, referred to as “a second control electrode”) of the secondtransistor TR2 may be disposed on the first insulating layer 12. A firstelectrode E1 of the capacitor Cap may be disposed on the firstinsulating layer 12. The first control electrode GE1, the second controlelectrode GE2, and the first electrode E1 may be formed through the samephotolithography process as the process of forming the scan line SLi(see FIG. 4).

A second insulating layer 14 may be disposed on the first insulatinglayer 12 to cover the first control electrode GE1, the second controlelectrode GE2, and the first electrode E1. The second insulating layer14 may include an organic layer and/or an inorganic layer. Inparticular, the second insulating layer 14 may include a plurality ofinorganic thin film layers. The inorganic thin film layers may include asilicon nitride layer and a silicon oxide layer.

The source line DLj (refer to FIG. 4) and the power source line PL (seeFIG. 4) may be disposed on the second insulating layer 14. An inputelectrode SE1 (hereinafter, referred to as “a first input electrode”)and an output electrode DE1 (hereinafter, referred to as “a first outputelectrode”) of the first transistor TR1 may be disposed on the secondinsulating layer 14. An input electrode SE2 (hereinafter, referred to asa second input electrode) and an output electrode DE2 (hereinafter,referred to as a second output electrode) of the second transistor TR2may be disposed on the second insulating layer 14. The first inputelectrode SE1 may be branched from the source line DLj. The second inputelectrode DE2 may be branched from the power source line PL.

A second electrode E2 of the capacitor Cap may be disposed on the secondinsulating layer 14. The second electrode E2 may be formed through thesame photolithography process as the process of forming the source lineDLj and the power source line PL and may include the same material asthat of the source line DLj and the power source line PL.

The first input electrode SE1 and the first output electrode DE1 may berespectively connected to the first semiconductor pattern AL1 throughfirst and second contact holes CH1 and CH2 formed through the first andsecond insulating layers 12 and 14. The first output electrode DE1 maybe electrically connected to the first electrode E1. The first outputelectrode DE1 may be connected to the first electrode E1 through acontact hole (not shown) formed through the second insulating layer 14.The second input electrode SE2 and the second output electrode DE2 maybe respectively connected to the second semiconductor pattern AL2through third and fourth contact holes CH3 and CH4 formed through thefirst and second insulating layers 12 and 14. Meanwhile, each of thefirst and second transistors TR1 and TR2 may have a bottom gatestructure according to exemplary embodiments.

A third insulating layer 16 may be disposed on the second insulatinglayer 14 to cover the first input electrode SE1, the first outputelectrode DE1, the second input electrode SE2, and the second outputelectrode DE2. The third insulating layer 16 may include an organiclayer and/or an inorganic layer. Particularly, the third insulatinglayer 16 may include an organic material which provides a relativelyflat surface.

A pixel definition layer PXL and the organic light emitting device OLEDmay be disposed on the third insulating layer 16. The pixel definitionlayer PXL may be provided with an opening OP formed therethrough. Thepixel definition layer PXL may serve as another insulating layer. Theopening OP shown in FIG. 6B may correspond to openings OP-R, OP-G, andOP-B shown in FIG. 5.

The anode AE may be connected to the second output electrode DE2 througha fifth contact hole CH5 formed through the third insulating layer 16.The opening OP of the pixel definition layer PXL may expose at least aportion of the anode AE. A hole control layer HCL is may be commonlyformed in the light emitting areas PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B (see to FIG.5) and the non-light emitting area NPXA (see to FIG. 5). An organiclight emitting layer EML and an electron control layer ECL may besequentially formed on the hole control layer HCL. The hole controllayer HCL may include at least a hole transport layer, and the electroncontrol layer ECL may include at least an electron transport layer. Thecathode CE may be commonly formed in the light emitting areas PXA-R,PXA-G, and PXA-B and the non-light emitting area NPXA. The cathode CEmay be formed by a deposition method or a sputtering method inaccordance with a layer structure of the cathode CE.

The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may be disposed on the cathode CEto encapsulate the organic light emitting device layer DP-OLED. The thinfilm encapsulation layer TFE may protect the organic light emittingdevice OLED from moisture and foreign substance.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the light emitting area PXA maycorrespond to an area from which the light is generated. The lightemitting area PXA may be defined to correspond to the anode AE or thelight emitting layer EML of the organic light emitting device OLED. Inthe present exemplary embodiment, the organic light emitting layer EMLis patterned, but the organic light emitting layer EML may be commonlydisposed on the light emitting areas PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXAB (see to FIG.5) and the non-light emitting area NPXA (see to FIG. 5). In this case,the organic light emitting layer EML may generate a white light.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are cross-sectional views showing thin filmencapsulation layers TFE1, TFE2, and TFE3 according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, the thin filmencapsulation layers TFE1, TFE2, and TFE3 according to the presentexemplary embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7A, 7B,and 7C.

Each thin film encapsulation layer may include at least two inorganicthin film layers and an organic thin film layer disposed between the twoinorganic thin film layers. The inorganic thin film layers may protectthe organic light emitting device OLED from moisture, and the organicthin film layer may protect the organic light emitting device OLED fromforeign substance, e.g., a dust particle.

Referring to FIG. 7A, the thin film encapsulation layer TFE1 may include“n” inorganic thin film layers IOL1 to IOLn, and a first inorganic thinfilm layer IOL1 among the “n” inorganic thin film layers IOL1 to IOLnmay make contact with the cathode CE (see to FIG. 6B). The firstinorganic thin film layer IOL1 may be referred to as a lower inorganicthin film layer, and the inorganic thin film layers except for the firstinorganic thin film layer IOL1 among the “n” inorganic thin film layersIOL1 to IOLn may be referred to as upper inorganic thin film layers.

The thin film encapsulation layer TFE1 may include “n” organic thin filmlayers OL1 to OLn, and the “n” organic thin film layers OL1 to OLn maybe alternately arranged with the “n” inorganic thin film layers IOL1 toIOLn. A layer disposed at an uppermost position may be an organic layeror an inorganic layer. The “n” organic thin film layers OL1 to OLn mayhave a thickness greater than that of the “n” inorganic thin film layerson average.

Each of the “n” inorganic thin film layers IOL1 to IOLn may have asingle-layer structure of a single material or may have a multi-layerstructure of different materials. Each of the “n” organic thin filmlayers OL1 to OLn may be formed by depositing organic monomers. Theorganic monomers may include an acrylic-based monomer.

Referring to FIGS. 7B and 7C, the inorganic thin film layers included ineach of the thin film encapsulation layers TFE2 and TFE3 may include thesame or different materials and may have the same or differentthicknesses. The organic thin film layers included in each of the thinfilm encapsulation layers TFE2 and TFE3 may include the same ordifferent materials and have the same or different thicknesses.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the thin film encapsulation layer TFE2 may includea first inorganic thin film layer IOL1, a first organic thin film layerOL1, a second inorganic thin film layer IOL2, a second organic thin filmlayer OL2, and a third inorganic thin film layer IOL3, which aresequentially stacked.

The first inorganic thin film layer IOL1 may have a double-layerstructure. A first sub-layer S1 may be, but is not limited to, a lithiumfluoride layer. A second sub-layer S2 may be, but not limited to, analuminum oxide layer. The first organic thin film layer OL1 may be afirst organic monomer layer, the second inorganic thin film layer IOL2may be a first silicon nitride layer, the second organic thin film layerOL2 may be a second organic monomer layer, and the third inorganic thinfilm layer IOL3 may be a second silicon nitride layer.

As shown in FIG. 7C, the thin film encapsulation layer TFE3 may includea first inorganic thin film layer IOL10, a first organic thin film layerOL1, and a second inorganic thin film layer IOL20, which aresequentially stacked.

The first inorganic thin film layer IOL10 may have a double-layerstructure. A first sub-layer S10 may be, but is not limited to, alithium fluoride layer. A second sub-layer S20 may be, but not limitedto, a silicon oxide layer. The first organic thin film layer OL1 may bea first organic monomer layer, and the second inorganic thin film layerIOL20 may have a double layer structure. The second inorganic thin filmlayer IOL20 may include a first sub-layer S100 and a second sub-layer5200, which are deposited in different environments. The first sub-layerS100 may be deposited under a lower power condition, and the secondsub-layer 5200 may be deposited under a high power condition. Each ofthe first and second sub-layers S100 and 5200 may be, but are notlimited to, a silicon nitride layer.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views showing a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Displaypanels DP and DP1 are schematically shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. Referringto FIGS. 8A and 8B, a touch screen TS may include a first conductivelayer TS-CL1, a first insulating layer TS-IL1, a second conductive layerTS-CL2, and a second insulating layer TS-IL2.

Each of the first conductive layer TS-CL1 and the second conductivelayer TS-CL2 may have a single-layer structure or a multi-layerstructure of layers stacked along the third directional axis DR3. Theconductive layer having the multi-layer structure may include atransparent conductive layer and at least one metal layer. Thetransparent conductive layer may include at least one of indium tinoxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), indium tin zincoxide (ITZO), PEDOT, metal nanowire, and graphene. The metal layer mayinclude at least one of molybdenum, silver, titanium, copper, andaluminum. In addition, the metal layer may include an alloy of at leastone of molybdenum, silver, titanium, copper, and aluminum.

Each of the first conductive layer TS-CL1 and the second conductivelayer TS-CL2 may include a plurality of patterns. Hereinafter, the firstconductive layer TS-CL1 may include first conductive patterns (notshown), and the second conductive layer TS-CL2 may include secondconductive patterns (not shown). The first and second conductivepatterns may include touch electrodes and touch signal lines.

Each of the first insulating layer TS-IL1 and the second insulatinglayer TS-IL2 may include an inorganic material or an organic material.The inorganic material may include silicon oxide or silicon nitride. Theorganic material may include at least one of an acryl-based resin, amethacryl-based resin, a polyisoprene, a vinyl-based resin, anepoxy-based resin, an urethane-based resin, a cellulose-based resin, anda perylene-based resin. The first insulating layer TS-IL1 may have avariety of shapes as long as the first insulating layer TS-IL1 insulatesthe first conductive layer TS-CL1 from the second conductive layerTS-CL2. The shape of the first insulating layer TS-IL1 may be determineddepending on shapes of the first and second conductive patterns. Thefirst insulating layer TS-IL1 may entirely cover a base surface BSdescribed later or may include a plurality of insulating patterns.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the first conductive layer TS-CL1 is disposed onthe thin film encapsulation layer TFE. In other words, the thin filmencapsulation layer TFE provides the base surface BS on which the touchscreen TS is disposed.

The display panel DP1 shown in FIG. 8B may further include a bufferlayer BFL disposed on the thin film encapsulation layer TFE whencompared with the display panel DP shown in FIG. 8A. The buffer layerBFL may provide the base surface BS. The buffer layer BFL may be anorganic layer and may include any material determined in accordance withits purpose. The buffer layer BFL may be an organic layer and/or aninorganic layer to match a refractive index or may be a color filterlayer to reduce a reflection of an external light.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are plan views showing the conductive layers TS-CL1 andTS-CL2 of the touch screen TS according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure. FIG. 10A is a partially enlarged view showing aportion “AA” of FIG. 9A, FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view showing aportion of FIG. 10A along sectional line I to I′. FIG. 11A is apartially enlarged view showing a portion “BB” of FIG. 9B. FIG. 11B is across-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 11A along sectional lineII to II′. FIG. 12A is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “CC”of FIGS. 9A and 9B. FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view showing a portionof FIG. 12A along sectional line III to III′. The organic light emittingdevice layer DP-OLED is schematically shown in FIGS. 10B, 11B, and 12B.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a two-layer electrostaticcapacitive touch screen will be described in detail. The two-layerelectrostatic capacitive touch screen may obtain coordinate informationof a position at which a touch event occurs by a self-capacitance modeor a mutual capacitance mode, but the driving method of the touch screenis not limited thereto. The first conductive patterns of FIG. 9A maycorrespond to the first conductive layer TS-CL1 of FIGS. 8A and 8B, andthe second conductive patterns of FIG. 9B may correspond to the secondconductive layer TS-CL2 of FIGS. 8A and 8B.

Referring to FIG. 9A, the first conductive patterns may include firsttouch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and first touch signal linesSL1-1, SL-2, and SL1-3. FIG. 9A shows an example of three first touchelectrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 connected to first touch signal linesSL1-1, SL-2, and SL1-3.

The first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 may extend in thefirst direction DR1 and may be arranged in the second direction DR2.Each of the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 may have amesh shape through which a plurality of touch openings may be defined.The mesh shape will be described in detail later.

Each of the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 may include aplurality of first sensing parts SP1 and a plurality of first connectingparts CP1. The first sensing parts SP1 may be arranged in the firstdirection DR1. Each of the first connecting parts CP1 may connect twofirst sensing parts SP1 adjacent to each other among the first sensingparts SP1.

The first touch signal lines SL1-1, SL1-2, and SL1-3 may have a meshshape. The first touch signal lines SL1-1, SL1-2, and SL1-3 may have thesame layer structure as that of the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2,and TE1-3.

Referring to FIG. 9B, the second conductive patterns may include secondtouch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 and second touch signal linesSL2-1, SL2-2, and SL2-3. FIG. 9B shows an example of three second touchelectrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 connected to second touch signallines SL2-1, SL2-2, and SL2-3.

The second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 may be insulatedfrom the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 while crossingthe first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3. Each of the secondtouch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 may have a mesh shape throughwhich a plurality of touch openings may be defined.

Each of the second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 may includea plurality of second sensing parts SP2 and a plurality of secondconnecting parts CP2. The second sensing parts SP2 may be arranged inthe second direction DR2. Each of the second connecting parts CP2 mayconnect two second sensing parts SP2 adjacent to each other among thesecond sensing parts SP2.

The second touch signal lines SL2-1, SL2-2, and SL2-3 may have a meshshape. The second touch signal lines SL2-1, SL2-2, and SL2-3 have thesame layer structure as that of the second touch electrodes TE2-1,TE2-2, and TE2-3.

The first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 may be capacitivelycoupled to the second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3. Whensensing signals are applied to the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2,and TE1-3, capacitors may be formed between the first sensing parts SP1and the second sensing parts SP2.

The connecting parts may correspond to portions at which the first touchelectrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 cross the second touch electrodesTE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3, and the sensing parts correspond to portions atwhich the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 may not overlapwith the second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3. In the presentexemplary embodiment, each of the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2,and TE1-3 and each of the second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, andTE2-3 have a bar shape with a predetermined width. However, the shapesof the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and the secondtouch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3, which include the sensing partand the connecting part, are not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 10A, the first sensing part SP1 may be overlapped withthe non-light emitting area NPXA. The first sensing part SP1 may includea plurality of vertical portions SP1-C extending in the first directionDR1 and a plurality of horizontal portions SP1-L extending in the seconddirection DR2. The first vertical portions SP1-C and the firsthorizontal portions SP1-L may be referred to as mesh lines each having aline width of a few micrometers.

The first vertical portions SP1-C may be connected to the firsthorizontal portions SP1-L to form a plurality of touch openings TS-OP.In other words, the first sensing part SP1 may have a mesh shape definedby the touch openings TS-OP. In the present exemplary embodiment, thetouch openings TS-OP correspond to the light emitting areas PXA in aone-to-one correspondence, but they are not limited thereto. That is,one touch opening TS-OP may correspond to two or more light emittingareas PXA.

Referring to FIG. 10B, the first insulating layer TS-IL1 may be disposedon the base surface BS to cover the first sensing part SP1, i.e., thefirst horizontal portion SP1-L. Although not shown in figures, the firstinsulating layer TS-IL1 may cover the first connecting part CP1 and thefirst touch signal lines SL1-1, SL1-2, and SL1-3. In the presentexemplary embodiment, the thin film encapsulation layer TFE may providethe base surface BS. The first insulating layer TS-IL1 may overlap withthe non-light emitting area NPXA. A plurality of first insulatingopenings IL1-OP may be defined through the first insulating layer TS-IL1to correspond to the light emitting areas PXA.

The light emitting areas PXA may have the same shape as that of thefirst insulating openings IL1-OP. In other words, the first insulatinglayer TS-IL1 may have the same shape as that of the non-light emittingarea NPXA. That is, the first insulating layer TS-IL1 may have the samewidths as those of the non-light emitting area NPXA in the first andsecond directions DR1 and DR2. However, the present inventive conceptshould not be limited thereto. That is, the light emitting areas PXA mayhave a shape different from that of the first insulating openingsIL1-OP.

The second insulating layer TS-IL2 may be disposed on the firstinsulating layer TS-IL1. A plurality of second insulating openingsIL2-OP may be defined through the second insulating layer TS-IL2 tocorrespond to the first insulating openings IL1-OP. The first insulatinglayer TS-IL1 including the first insulating openings IL1-OP definedtherethrough may have the same shape as that of the second insulatinglayer TS-IL2 including the second insulating openings IL2-OP definedtherethrough. The first and second insulating openings IL1-OP and IL2-OPwhich may correspond to each other may be substantially simultaneouslyformed through a single process after the first and second insulatinglayers TS-IL1 and TS-IL2 are sequentially stacked.

Referring to FIGS. 11A and 11B, the second sensing part SP2 may overlapwith the non-light emitting area NPXA. The second sensing part SP2 mayinclude a plurality of second vertical portions SP2-C extending in thefirst direction DR1 and a plurality of second horizontal portions SP2-Lextending in the second direction DR2.

The second vertical portions SP2-C may be connected to the secondhorizontal portions SP2-L to form the touch openings TS-OP. In otherwords, the second sensing part SP2 may have a mesh shape. The secondinsulating layer TS-IL2 may be disposed on the first insulating layerTS-IL1 and cover the second sensing part SP2.

Referring to FIGS. 12A and 12B, the first connecting part CP1 mayinclude third vertical portions CP1-C1 and CP1-C2 disposed on the thinfilm encapsulation layer TFE and third horizontal portions CP1-Lconnecting the third vertical portions CP1-C1 and CP1-C2. FIGS. 12A and12B show two third vertical portions CP1-C1 and CP1-C2, but the numberof the third vertical portions is not limited thereto.

The second connecting part CP2 may include fourth horizontal portionsCP2-L1 and CP2-L2 disposed on the first insulating layer TS-IL1 andfourth vertical portions CP2-C connecting the fourth horizontal portionsCP2-L1 and CP2-L2. The first and second connecting parts CP1 and CP2 mayhave a mesh shape.

As described above, since the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, andTE1-3 and the second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 have amesh shape and the first and second insulating openings IL1-OP andIL2-OP are respectively defined through the first and second insulatinglayers TS-IL1 and TS-IL2, the flexibility of the flexible display deviceDD may be improved. As shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B, when the flexibledisplay device DD is bent, a tensile-compressive stress applied to thefirst touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and the second touchelectrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 may be reduced, and thus the firsttouch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and the second touch electrodesTE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 may be prevented from cracking. In addition,since the first and second insulating openings IL1-OP and IL2-OP aredefined, the tensile-compressive stress applied to the first touchelectrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and the second touch electrodesTE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 may be further reduced.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are cross-sectional views showing a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS.13A and 13B show the cross-section corresponding to sectional line I-I′of FIG. 10A. FIG. 13A does not show components disposed under a thinfilm encapsulation layer TFE1-1. FIG. 13B shows a display device furtherincluding a buffer layer BFL-1. In FIGS. 13A and 13B, detaileddescriptions of the same components as those described above will beomitted.

Referring to FIG. 13A, the thin film encapsulation layer TFE1-1 mayinclude “n” inorganic thin film layers IOL1 to IOLn including a firstinorganic thin film layer IOL1. The thin film encapsulation layer TFE1-1may include “n” organic thin film layers OL1 to OLn alternately arrangedwith the “n” inorganic thin film layers IOL1 to IOLn.

A thin film layer disposed at an upper position may includeencapsulation openings TFE-OP or encapsulation grooves TFE-G definedtherethrough to correspond to a plurality of first insulating openingsIL1-OP. In the present exemplary embodiment, the thin film layerdisposed at the upper position may be an n-th organic thin film layerOLn. The encapsulation grooves TFE-G are indicated by a dotted line inFIG. 13A and may be formed by removing portions of the upper thin filmlayer in the third direction DR3.

Referring to FIG. 13B, the buffer layer BFL-1 may include bufferopenings BFL-OP or buffer grooves BFL-G defined therethrough tocorrespond to the first insulating openings IL1-OP. The buffer openingsBFL-OP are indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 13B and may be formed byremoving portions of the buffer layer BFL-1 in the third direction DR3.

Due to the encapsulation openings TFE-OP, the encapsulation groovesTFE-G, the buffer openings BFL-OP, and the buffer grooves BFL-G, theflexibility of the flexible display device may be improved.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are plan views showing conductive layers of a touchscreen TS according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 14C is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “DD”of FIGS. 14A and 14B. FIG. 14D is a cross-sectional view showing aportion of FIG. 14C along sectional line IV-IV′. FIG. 14E is a partiallyenlarged view showing a portion “DD” of FIGS. 14A and 14B. FIG. 14F is across-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 14E along sectional lineIV″-IV′″.

Hereinafter, in FIGS. 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D, 14E, and 14F, the sameelements as those described above will be omitted.

In the present exemplary embodiment, one-layer electrostatic capacitivetouch screen will be described in detail. The one-layer electrostaticcapacitive touch screen may be operated in a self-capacitance mode toobtain the coordinate information, but the driving method of the touchscreen is not limited thereto. In the present exemplary embodiment, thefirst conductive patterns of FIG. 14A correspond to the first conductivelayer TS-CL1 of FIGS. 8A and 8B, and the second conductive patterns ofFIG. 14B correspond to the second conductive layer TS-CL2 of FIGS. 8Aand 8B, but it is not limited thereto. In another exemplary embodiment,the first conductive patterns of FIG. 14A correspond to the secondconductive layer TS-CL2 of FIGS. 8A and 8B, and the second conductivepatterns of FIG. 14B correspond to the first conductive layer TS-CL1 ofFIGS. 8A and 8B.

Referring to FIG. 14A, the first conductive patterns may include firsttouch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3, first touch signal linesSL1-1, SL1-2, and SL1-3, second sensing parts SP2 of second touchelectrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3, and second touch signal lines SL2-1,SL2-2, and SL2-3. Each of the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, andTE1-3 may include a plurality of first sensing parts SP1 and a pluralityof first connecting parts CP1.

Referring to FIG. 14B, the second conductive patterns may include aplurality of second connecting parts CP2 of the second touch electrodesTE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3. The second connecting parts CP2 may have abridge function.

Referring to FIGS. 14C and 14D, the second connecting part CP2 mayelectrically connect two second sensing parts SP2 adjacent to each otherin the second direction DR2 through first and second contact holesTS-CH1 and TS-CH2. The first and second contact holes TS-CH1 and TS-CH2may be formed to penetrate through the first insulating layer TS-IL1.

Referring to FIGS. 14E and 14F, the first insulating layer TS-IL1 ofFIG. 14E may include a plurality of insulating patterns IL-P. Differentfrom the first insulating layer TS-IL1 disposed over the entire displayarea DA in the touch screen TS described with reference to FIGS. 10A,10B, 11A, 11B, 12A, and 12B, the first insulating layer TS-IL1 accordingto the present exemplary embodiment is partially overlapped with thedisplay area DA. The insulating patterns IL-P may insulate the firstconnecting parts CP1 and the second connecting parts CP2 from eachother.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are plan views showing conductive layers of a touchscreen TS according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 16A is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “EE”of FIGS. 15A and 15B, FIG. 16B is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 16A.FIGS. 16C and 16D are cross-sectional views showing a portion of FIG.16A along sectional lines V to V′ and VI to VI′ of FIG. 16A,respectively. In FIGS. 15A, 15B, and 16A, 16B, 16C, and 16D, detaileddescriptions of the same elements as those above will be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 15A and 15B, first conductive patterns may includefirst touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and first auxiliaryelectrodes STE1. Each of the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, andTE1-3 may include a plurality of first sensing parts SP1 and a pluralityof first connecting parts CP1. Second conductive patterns may includesecond touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 and second auxiliaryelectrodes STE2. Each of the second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, andTE2-3 may include a plurality of second sensing parts SP2 and aplurality of second connecting parts CP2.

Each of the first auxiliary electrodes STE1 may overlap with acorresponding second sensing part of the second sensing parts SP2, andeach of the second auxiliary electrodes STE2 may overlap with acorresponding first sensing part of the first sensing parts SP1. Thefirst and second auxiliary electrodes STE1 and STE2 may have a meshshape. Each of the first auxiliary electrodes STE1 may be electricallyconnected to the corresponding second sensing part, and each of thesecond auxiliary electrodes STE2 may be electrically connected to thecorresponding first sensing part. Accordingly, a resistance of the firsttouch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and the second touch electrodesTE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 may be reduced and a touch sensitivity of thefirst touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and the second touchelectrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 may be improved.

The first touch electrode may be defined by a combination of the firstsensing parts SP1, a plurality of first connecting parts CP1, and thesecond auxiliary electrodes STE2. The first sensing parts SP1 maycorrespond to a lower sensing part of the first touch electrode, thefirst connecting parts CP1 may correspond to lower connecting parts, andthe second auxiliary electrodes STE2 may correspond to an upper sensingpart. Similarly, the second touch electrode may be defined by acombination of the second sensing parts SP2, a plurality of secondconnecting parts CP2, and the first auxiliary electrodes STE1.

FIGS. 16A and 16B show a connection relation between the secondauxiliary electrode STE2 and the first sensing part SP1. The firstsensing part SP1 is indicated by a dotted line, and the second auxiliaryelectrode STE2 is indicated by a solid line. In FIGS. 16A and 16B, aline width of the second auxiliary electrode STE2 may be greater than aline width of the first sensing part SP1, but it is not limited thereto.The second auxiliary electrode STE2 and the first sensing part SP1 mayhave the same line width. The second auxiliary electrode STE2 mayoverlap with the first sensing part SP1 and not overlap with the firstconnecting part CP1.

Referring to FIGS. 16C and 16D, the second auxiliary electrode STE2 maybe connected to the first sensing part SP1 through a plurality ofsub-contact holes SCH. In the present exemplary embodiment, the thinfilm encapsulation layer TFE provides the flat base surface BS, butanother layer (e.g., a buffer layer) may provide the base surface BSaccording to another embodiment.

As described above, since the touch electrodes have the mesh shape andthe insulating layer making contact with the touch electrodes mayinclude the openings defined therethrough, the flexibility of thedisplay device may be improved. When the flexible display device isbent, the tensile stress and the compressive stress applied to the touchelectrodes may be reduced, and thus the touch electrodes may beprevented from being cracked.

FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C, 17D, and 17E are cross-sectional views showing adisplay device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure along sectional line I to I′ of FIG. 10A. FIG. 18 is across-sectional view showing a portion of a display device according toan exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure along sectional lineII to II′ of FIG. 11A.

FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C, 17D, and 17E are cross-sectional views taken alonga line I-I′ of FIG. 10A to show a display device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 18 iscross-sectional view taken along a sectional line II-II′ of FIG. 11A toshow a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure. In FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C, 17D, 17E and 18, detaileddescriptions of the same elements as those described above will beomitted.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the touch screen TS reduces areflection of an external light. This is because the touch screen TS mayinclude color filters CF as described later. The color filters CF mayreplace an optical film (e.g., a polarizing film) or a λ/4 wavelengthfilm used to prevent the external light from being reflected.

Referring to FIG. 17A, the color filters CF may be disposed inside thefirst insulating openings IL1-OP. The color filters CF may be an organicpattern formed by pigment or dye. The color filters CF may include aplurality of color filter groups. The color filters CF may include redcolor filters, green color filters, and blue color filters. The colorfilters CF may further include a gray color filter.

The colors of the color filters CF may be different in each of the firstinsulating openings IL1-OP in consideration of the colors of the lightsgenerated by the organic light emitting devices OLED. For example, thered color filters are disposed to overlap with the organic lightemitting devices OLED emitting a red light, the green color filters aredisposed to overlap with the organic light emitting devices OLEDemitting a green light, and the blue color filters are disposed tooverlap with the organic light emitting devices OLED emitting a bluelight.

The color filters CF may allow transmission of the light generated bythe organic light emitting devices OLED and reduce the reflectance ofthe external light. In addition, an amount of the external light may bereduced to about ⅓ while passing through the color filters CF. A portionof the light may become extinct while passing through the color filtersCF, and the light maybe partially reflected by the organic lightemitting device layer DP-OLED and the thin film encapsulation layer TFE.The reflected light may be incident to the color filters CF. Abrightness of the reflected light may be reduced after the light passesthrough the color filters CF. Consequently, only a portion of theexternal light may be reflected by the display device.

The first insulating opening IL1-OP and a second insulating openingIL2-OP corresponding to the first insulating opening IL-OP may besubstantially simultaneously formed through a single process performedon the first insulating layer TS-IL1 and the second insulating layerTS-IL2 after the first insulating layer TS-IL1 and the second insulatinglayer TS-IL2 are sequentially stacked. The color filters CF may beformed after the first insulating layer TS-IL1 and the second insulatinglayer TS-IL2 are formed. The color filters CF may be formed by aprinting method, e.g., an inkjet printing method, or a photolithographymethod.

Referring to FIG. 17B, the second insulating layer TS-IL2 may bedisposed on the first insulating layer TS-IL1. Different from thestructure shown in FIG. 17A, the second insulating openings IL2-OP maynot be defined in the second insulating layer TS-IL2. The secondinsulating layer TS-IL2 may overlap with the color filters CF.

Referring to FIG. 17C, the color filter CF may be formed in the firstinsulating opening IL1-OP and the second insulating opening IL2-OP.Since the first and second insulating openings IL1-OP and IL2-OP may besubstantially simultaneously formed, the first and second insulatingopenings IL1-OP and IL2-OP may be aligned with each other. The colorfilter CF may have a shape extending from the inside of the firstinsulating opening IL1-OP to the inside of the second insulating openingIL2-OP. The color filter CF may have a thickness that is the same as asum of a thickness of the first insulating layer TS-IL1 and a thicknessof the second insulating layer TS-IL2.

Referring to FIG. 17D, each of a first insulating layer TS-BM1 and asecond insulating layer TS-BM2 may be, but not limited to, a blackmatrix. The black matrix may include an organic material having highlight-absorbance. To this end, the black matrix may include a blackpigment or a black dye.

Referring to FIG. 17E, a black matrix layer BM is disposed on the secondinsulating layer TS-IL2. The black matrix layer BM may include theorganic material having the high light-absorbance. The black matrixlayer BM may include a plurality of transmitting openings BM-OP definedtherethrough to correspond to the light emitting areas PXA. In thepresent exemplary embodiment, the transmitting openings BM-OP mayfurther cover an inner sidewall of each of the first insulating openingIL-OP1 and the second insulating opening IL2-OP.

Referring to FIG. 18, the second sensing part SP2 may overlap with thenon-light emitting area NPXA. FIG. 18 shows the cross-sectional view ofthe second sensing part SP2 corresponding to that shown in FIG. 17A. Inthe present exemplary embodiment, although the cross-sectional views ofthe second sensing part SP2 corresponding to those shown in FIGS. 17B,17C, 17D, and 17E are not shown, the cross-sectional views of the secondsensing part SP2 are substantially the same as the cross-sectional viewsshown in FIGS. 17B, 17C, 17D, and 17E except for the position of thefirst sensing part SP1.

FIGS. 19A and 19B are cross-sectional views showing a portion of adisplay device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure along sectional line I-I′ of FIG. 10A. FIGS. 19A and 19Bcorrespond to FIGS. 13A and 13B, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 19A, a color filter CF may be disposed inside theencapsulation openings TFE-OP or the encapsulation grooves TFE-G. Thecolor filter CF may be disposed inside the first insulating openingIL1-OP and inside the encapsulation openings TFE-OP or the encapsulationgrooves TFE-G. The color filter CF may have a shape extending from theinside of the first insulating opening IL1-OP to the inside of theencapsulation openings TFE-OP or the inside of the encapsulation groovesTFE-G.

Referring to FIG. 19B, the color filter CF may be disposed inside thebuffer openings BFL-OP or inside the buffer grooves BFL-G. The colorfilter CF may be disposed inside the first insulating opening IL1-OP andinside the buffer openings BFL-OP or the buffer grooves BFL-G. The colorfilter CF may have a shape extending from the inside of the firstinsulating opening IL1-OP to the inside of the buffer openings BFL-OP orthe inside of the buffer grooves BFL-G.

Although not shown in figures, the second insulating layer TS-IL2 andthe color filter CF shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B may be changed to thesecond insulating layer TL-IL2 and the color filter CF shown in FIGS.17B, 17C, 17D, and 17E.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure alongline VI-VI′ of FIG. 16A. FIG. 20 may correspond to FIG. 16D. A secondauxiliary electrode STE2 may be connected to a first sensing part SP1through a plurality of sub-contact holes SCH. Although not shownseparately, a second insulating layer TS-IL2 and a color filter CF shownin FIG. 20 may be changed to the second insulating layer TL-IL2 and thecolor filter CF shown in FIGS. 17B, 17C, 17D, and 17E.

Although not shown separately, the display device according to thepresent exemplary embodiment may include one-layer electrostaticcapacitive type touch screen as described with reference to FIGS. 14A,14B, 14C, and 14D. The one-layer electrostatic capacitive type touchscreen TS may include color filters CF as described with reference toFIGS. 17A, 17C, 17D, 17E, 18, 19A, 19B, and 20.

As described above, since the color filters may be disposed in theopenings defined through the insulating layers of the touch screen, thedisplay device may become slimmer. The color filters filter the externallight, and thus the reflectance of the external light may be reduced.

FIGS. 21A, 21B, and 21C are cross-sectional views showing a portion of adisplay device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIGS. 22A, 22B, 22C, and 22D are cross-sectional viewsshowing a portion of a display device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional viewshowing a portion of a display device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

Each of FIGS. 21A, 21B, and 21C show a cross-sectional view along I-I′of FIG. 10A to show the portion of the display device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Each of FIGS. 22A, 22B,22C, and 22D show the cross-sectional view along sectional line II-II′of FIG. 11A to show the portion of the display device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 23 shows thecross-sectional view corresponding to the sectional line of FIG. 12A toshow the portion of the display device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, detailed descriptionsof the same elements as those described above will be omitted.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the first insulatinglayer TS-IL1 (see to FIG. 8A) may include at least a color filter layer.The color filter layer may include a plurality of color filters. In thepresent exemplary embodiment, the first insulating layer TS-IL1 mayfurther include a black matrix. The first insulating layer TS-IL1 mayfurther include at least one of an inorganic material layer or anorganic material layer. The inorganic material layer or the organicmaterial layer may be a planarization layer providing a relatively flatsurface. The inorganic material layer may include silicon oxide orsilicon nitride. The organic material layer may include at least one ofan acryl-based resin, a methacryl-based resin, a polyisoprene, avinyl-based resin, an epoxy-based resin, an urethane-based resin, acellulose-based resin, and a perylene-based resin.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the second insulating layer TS-IL2may include a black matrix. The second insulating layer TS-IL2 mayinclude at least one of an inorganic material layer and an organicmaterial layer. Particularly, the second insulating layer TS-IL2 mayfurther include the organic material layer to provide a relatively flatsurface. Materials for the inorganic material layer and materials forthe organic material layer may be selected from materials applied to thefirst insulating layer TS-IL1.

Referring to FIG. 21A, a thin film encapsulation layer TFE may provide abase surface BS. A first black matrix TS-BM1 may be disposed on the basesurface BS to cover a first sensing part SP1, i.e., a first horizontalportion SP1-L. Although not shown separately, the first black matrixTS-BM1 may cover a first connecting part CP1 and first touch signallines SL1-1, SL1-2, and SL1-3. The first black matrix TS-BM1 may beoverlapped with a non-light emitting area NPXA. The first black matrixTS-BM1 may include a plurality of first openings BM1-OP definedtherethrough to correspond to a plurality of light emitting areas PXA.The light emitting areas PXA may have substantially the same shape asthat of the first openings BM1-OP when viewed in a plan view. In otherwords, the first black matrix TS-BM1 may have substantially the sameshape as that of the non-light emitting area NPXA. That is, the firstblack matrix TS-BM1 may have substantially the same width as that of thenon-light emitting area NPXA in the first and second directions DR1 andDR2. However, the light emitting areas PXA may have different shape orsize from that of the first openings BM1-OP according to otherembodiments.

The color filters CF may be disposed inside the first openings BM1-OP,respectively. The color filters CF may include a plurality of colorfilter groups. The color filters CF may include red color filters, greencolor filters, and blue color filters.

The colors of the color filters CF may be different in each of the firstinsulating openings IL1-OP in consideration of the colors of the lightsgenerated by the organic light emitting devices OLED. For example, thered color filters are disposed to overlap with the organic lightemitting devices OLED emitting a red light, the green color filters aredisposed to overlap with the organic light emitting devices OLEDemitting a green light, and the blue color filters are disposed tooverlap with the organic light emitting devices OLED emitting a bluelight.

An insulating layer TS-IL may be disposed on the first black matrixTS-BM1 and the color filters CF. The insulating layer TS-IL may be aplanarization layer providing a flat surface FS. The insulating layerTS-IL may overlap with the light emitting areas PXA and the non-lightemitting area NPXA.

A second black matrix TS-BM2 may be disposed on the insulating layerTS-IL. The second black matrix TS-BM2 may include a plurality of secondopenings BM2-OP defined therethrough to correspond to the first openingsBM1-OP. The first black matrix TS-BM1 including the first openingsBM1-OP defined therethrough may have substantially the same shape asthat of the second black matrix TS-BM2 including the second openingsBM2-OP defined therethrough. However, the second black matrix TS-BM2 isnot limited thereto, and may be omitted in the present exemplaryembodiment.

FIGS. 21B and 21C show the enlarged non-light emitting area NPXA shownin FIG. 21A. In FIGS. 21B and 21C, elements disposed under the basesurface BS are omitted. As shown in FIG. 21B, edges of the color filtersCF may be partially overlapped with the first black matrix TS-BM1. Asshown in FIG. 21C, the color filers CF may have a height different fromthat of the first black matrix TS-BM1. The insulating layer TS-IL maycompensate for a step difference caused by the processes and provides aflat surface FS. The second black matrix TS-BM2 may be disposed on theflat surface FS.

As shown in FIG. 22A, the second sensing part SP2, i.e., the secondvertical portions SP2-C, may be disposed on the flat surface FS. Thesecond black matrix TS-BM2 may cover the second sensing part SP2, i.e.,the second vertical portions SP2-C.

As shown in FIG. 22B, the second black matrix TS-BM2 may be omitted. Inthis case, the second sensing part SP2 may include a conductive lightblocking material. The conductive light blocking material may include aconductive material having low reflectance. The conductive lightblocking material may include at least one of chromium oxide, chromiumnitride, titanium oxide, and titanium nitride. In addition, the lightblocking material may include an alloy of at least one of chromiumoxide, chromium nitride, titanium oxide, and titanium nitride.

FIGS. 22C and 22D shows the enlarged non-light emitting area NPXAcorresponding to FIGS. 21B and 21C. The insulating layer TS-IL maycompensate for a step difference caused by the processes, and the secondvertical portions SP2-C may be disposed on the insulating layer TS-IL.

As shown in FIG. 23, the first connecting part may include thirdvertical portions CP1-C1 and CP1-C2 disposed on the thin filmencapsulation layer TFE. The second connecting part CP2 may includefourth horizontal portions CP2-L1 disposed on the first black matrixTS-BM1.

FIGS. 24A and 24B are plan views showing conductive layers of a touchscreen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.In FIGS. 24A and 24B, detailed descriptions of the same elements asthose described above will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 24A, first conductive patterns may include first touchelectrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, TE1-3, and TE1-4 and first touch signal linesSL1-1, SL1-2, SL1-3, and SL1-4. For example, FIG. 24A shows four firsttouch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, TE1-3, and TE1-4 and the first touchsignal lines SL1-1, SL1-2, SL1-3, and SL1-4 connected to the first touchelectrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, TE1-3, and TE1-4.

The first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, TE1-3, and TE1-4 may extend inthe first direction DR1 and are may be arranged in the second directionDR2. Each of the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, TE1-3, and TE1-4may have a mesh shape through which a plurality of touch openings isdefined. The first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, TE1-3, and TE1-4 mayhave substantially the same first width W1 in the second direction DR2.The first width W1 of each of the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2,TE1-3, and TE1-4 may be constant in the first direction DR1. The firsttouch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, TE1-3, and TE1-4 may be spaced apart fromeach other at regular intervals D1 in the second direction DR2. Thefirst touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, TE1-3, and TE1-4 may receivedetecting signals to drive the touch screen. The detecting signals maybe an alternating current signal.

Referring to FIG. 24B, second conductive patterns may include secondtouch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, TE2-3, TE2-4, TE2-5, and TE2-6 and secondtouch signal lines SL2-1, SL2-2, SL2-3, SL2-4, SL2-5, and SL2-6. Forexample, FIG. 24B shows six second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, TE2-3,TE2-4, TE2-5, and TE2-6 and the second touch signal lines SL2-1, SL2-2,SL2-3, SL2-4, SL2-5, and SL2-6 connected to the second touch electrodesTE2-1, TE2-2, TE2-3, TE2-4, TE2-5, and TE2-6.

The second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, TE2-3, TE2-4, TE2-5, and TE2-6extend in the second direction DR2 and are arranged in the firstdirection DR1. Each of the second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, TE2-3,TE2-4, TE2-5, and TE2-6 has a mesh shape through which a plurality oftouch openings is defined. The second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2,TE2-3, TE2-4, TE2-5, and TE2-6 have substantially the same second widthW2 in the first direction DR1. Each of the second touch electrodesTE2-1, TE2-2, TE2-3, TE2-4, TE2-5, and TE2-6 may have a constant width.The second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, TE2-3, TE2-4, TE2-5, and TE2-6are spaced apart from each other at regular intervals D2 in the firstdirection DR1. The second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, TE2-3, TE2-4,TE2-5, and TE2-6 are capacitively coupled to the first touch electrodesTE1-1, TE1-2, TE1-3, and TE1-4, and touch signals are read out from thesecond touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, TE2-3, TE2-4, TE2-5, and TE2-6.

As shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B, since the first touch electrodes TE1-1,TE1-2, TE1-3, and TE1-4 may be disposed closer to each other than thesecond touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, TE2-3, TE2-4, TE2-5, and TE2-6,the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, TE1-3, and TE1-4 may block anoise that is generated in the display panel DP (see to FIG. 2A) whichmay interfere with the second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, TE2-3,TE2-4, TE2-5, and TE2-6. This is because the first touch electrodesTE1-1, TE1-2, TE1-3, and TE1-4 may be disposed closer to each other thanthe second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, TE2-3, TE2-4, TE2-5, and TE2-6and the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, TE1-3, and TE1-4 may covermost of the second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, TE2-3, TE2-4, TE2-5,and TE2-6. That is, the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, TE1-3, andTE1-4 may block paths of the noise interference.

FIGS. 25A and 25B are plan views showing conductive layers of a touchscreen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 25C is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “FF” of FIGS.25A and 25B. FIG. 25D is a cross-sectional view showing a portion ofFIG. 25C along line VII to VII′. In FIGS. 25A, 25B, 25C, and 25D,detailed descriptions of the same elements as those described above willbe omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 25A and 25B, first conductive patterns may includefirst touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and shielding electrodesSTE. Each of the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 mayinclude a plurality of first sensing parts SP1 and a plurality of firstconnecting parts CP1. The second conductive patterns may include secondtouch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3. Each of the second touchelectrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 may include a plurality of secondsensing parts SP2 and a plurality of second connecting parts CP2.

Each of the shielding electrodes STE may overlap with a correspondingsecond sensing part among the second sensing parts SP2. Each of theshielding electrodes STE may have a mesh shape. Each of the shieldingelectrodes STE may be a floating electrode.

In the present exemplary embodiment, each of the shielding electrodesSTE receives a ground voltage. Although not shown separately, electrodesarranged in the first direction DR1 among the shielding electrodes maybe connected to each other. The shielding electrodes STE may block anoise that is generated in the display panel DP (see to FIG. 2A) whichmay interfere with the second sensing parts SP2.

FIGS. 25C and 25D show a relation between the shielding electrode STEand the second sensing part SP2. The shielding electrode STE isindicated by a dotted line, and the second sensing part SP2 is indicatedby a solid line. In FIGS. 25C and 25D, the second sensing part SP2 mayhave a line width greater than a line width of the shielding electrodeSTE, but it is not limited thereto. According to an exemplaryembodiment, the line width of the second sensing part SP2 may besubstantially the same as the line width of the shielding electrode STE.

Although not shown separately, the display device according to thepresent exemplary embodiment may include one-layer electrostaticcapacitive touch screen as described with reference to FIGS. 14A, 14B,14C, and 14D. The one-layer electrostatic capacitive touch screen TS mayinclude color filters CF or shielding electrodes as described withreference to FIGS. 21A, 21B, 21C, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 23, 24A, 24B, 25A,25B, 25C, and 25D.

As described above, since the color filters are respectively disposedinside the openings of the black matrix of the touch screen, the displaydevice may become slimmer. The color filters may filter the externallight, and thus the reflectance of the external light may be reduced.

Since the first conductive patterns may be disposed to overlap with thesecond conductive patterns, the second conductive patterns may beprevented from being interfered with by the noise generated from thedisplay panel.

FIG. 26A is a partially enlarged view showing a portion of a displaydevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIGS. 26B, 26C, 26D, and 26E are cross-sectional views showing a portionof a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 27A is a partially enlarged view showing a portion of adisplay device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, and FIGS. 27B, 27C, 27D, and 27E are cross-sectional viewsshowing a portion of a display device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 28A is a partially enlargedview showing a display device according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure. FIG. 28B is a cross-sectional view showing aportion of FIG. 28A along sectional line X-X′.

FIG. 26A is a partially enlarged view showing the portion “AA” of FIG.9A. Each of FIGS. 26B, 26C, 26D, and 26E shows the cross-sectional viewcorresponding to a sectional line VIII-VIII′ of FIG. 26A to show theportion of the display device according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure. FIG. 27A is a partially enlarged view showingthe portion “BB” of FIG. 9B. Each of FIGS. 27B, 27C, 27D, and 27E showsthe cross-sectional view corresponding to a line IX-IX′ of FIG. 27A toshow the portion of the display device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 28A shows a state in whichthe conductive layers of FIG. 9A may overlap with the conductive layersof FIG. 9B. In FIGS. 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D, 26E, 27A, 27B, 27C, 27D, 27E,28A, and 28B, detailed descriptions of the same elements as thosedescribed above will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 26A, a first sensing part SP1 may overlap with anon-light emitting area NPXA adjacent to light emitting areas PXA. Thefirst sensing part SP1 may include a plurality of first verticalportions SP1-C extending in a first direction DR1 and a plurality offirst horizontal portions SP1-L extending in a second direction DR2. Thefirst vertical portions SP1-C and the first horizontal portions SP1-Lmay be referred to as mesh lines. The first vertical portions SP1-C maybe connected to the first horizontal portion SP1-L to form a pluralityof touch openings TS-OP.

Referring to FIG. 26B, a thin film encapsulation layer TFE may provide abase surface BS. Color filters CF may be disposed on the base surfaceBS. In FIG. 26A, a dotted line may indicate a boundary between the colorfilters CF shown in FIG. 26B.

As shown in FIG. 26B, each of the color filters CF may include a centerportion CF-C and an edge portion CF-E. The center portion CF-C mayoverlap with a corresponding light emitting area among the lightemitting areas PXA. The edge portion CF-E may extend from the centerportion CF-C, overlapped with the non-light emitting area NPXA, andoverlap with a first conductive pattern (e.g., the first horizontalportion SP1-L of the first sensing part SP1). Although not shownseparately, the color filters CF may overlap with the first connectingpart CP1. When viewed in a plan view, the edge portion CF-E may surroundthe center portion CF-C in each of the color filters CF.

Among the color filters CF shown in the present exemplary embodiment, aleft color filter is a red color filter, and a right color filter is agreen color filter. The edge portion CF-E of each of the color filtersCF adjacent to each other may make contact with the first horizontalportion SP1-L and may cover the first horizontal portion SP1-L. The edgeportions CF-E of the color filters CF may partially cover the firsthorizontal portion SP1-L and may completely cover the first conductivepattern in cooperation with the adjacent color filter CF.

A black matrix TS-BM is disposed on the color filters CF. As shown inFIG. 26B, the black matrix TS-BM may be directly disposed on the colorfilters CF. The black matrix TS-BM may include a plurality oftransmitting openings BM-OP defined therethrough to correspond to thelight emitting areas PXA.

The black matrix TS-BM may be disposed to correspond to the non-lightemitting area NPXA. The light emitting areas PXA may have substantiallythe same shape as that of the transmitting openings BM-OP when viewed ina plan view. In other words, the black matrix TS-BM may havesubstantially the same shape as that of the non-light emitting areaNPXA. That is, the black matrix TS-BM may have the same widths as thoseof the non-light emitting area NPXA in the first and second directionsDR1 and DR2. However, the present inventive concept is not limitedthereto. That is, the light emitting areas PXA may have a shapedifferent from that of the transmitting openings BM-OP.

FIGS. 26C and 26D show the enlarged view of the non-light emitting areaNPXA shown in FIG. 26B. In FIGS. 26C and 26D, components disposed underthe base surface BS are not shown. As shown in FIG. 26C, the edgeportion CF-E of the left color filter may completely cover the firsthorizontal portion SP1-L. The edge portion CF-E of the right colorfilter may be disposed on the edge portion CF-E of the left colorfilter. The shape of the boundary between the color filters disposed inthe non-light emitting area NPXA may be changed in accordance with theorder of forming the left and right color filters.

As shown in FIG. 26D, an insulating layer TS-IL may further disposed onthe left and right color filters. The insulating layer TS-IL may providea flat surface FS. The black matrix TS-BM may be directly disposed onthe flat surface FS.

As shown in FIG. 26E, the touch screen TS may include a first blackmatrix TS-BM1 and a second black matrix TS-BM2. The first black matrixTS-BM1 may be disposed on the base surface BS and covers the firstconductive pattern (e.g., the first horizontal portion SP1-L). The firstblack matrix TS-BM1 may include a plurality of first transmittingopenings BM1-OP defined therethrough to correspond to the light emittingareas PXA.

The edge portions CF-E of the color filters CF may contact the firstblack matrix TS-BM1 and may cover the first black matrix TS-BM1. Thecolor filters CF may completely cover the first black matrix TS-BM1 incooperation with an adjacent color filter CF.

The second black matrix TS-BM2 may be disposed on the color filters CF.The second black matrix TS-BM2 may include a plurality of secondtransmitting openings BM2-OP defined therethrough to correspond to thelight emitting areas PXA. Although not shown separately, the edgeportions CF-E of the adjacent color filters CF may be substantially thesame as those shown in FIG. 26C, and the second black matrix TS-BM2 maybe disposed on the insulating layer covering the color filters CF.

As shown in FIGS. 27A and 27B, a second sensing part SP2 may overlapwith the non-light emitting area NPXA. The second sensing part SP2 mayinclude a plurality of second vertical portions SP2-C extending in thefirst direction DR1 and a plurality of second horizontal portions SP2-Lextending in the second direction DR2. The second vertical portionsSP2-C may be connected to the second horizontal portions SP2-L to form aplurality of touch openings TS-OP.

As shown in FIGS. 27B, 27C, and 27D, the black matrix TS-BM may bedisposed on the color filters CF and may cover the second conductivepatterns (e.g., the second vertical portions SP2-C). As shown in FIG.27E, the second black matrix TS-BM may be directly disposed on the colorfilters CF and may cover the second conductive patterns (e.g., thesecond vertical portions SP2-C).

As described above, the color filters CF may serve as an insulatinglayer to insulate the first conductive patterns from the secondconductive patterns (e.g., the first horizontal portions SP1-L from thesecond vertical portions SP2-C). The color filters CF may reduce thereflectance of the external light, and thus the insulating layer may beomitted.

FIG. 28A shows an example in which the conductive layers of FIG. 9A areoverlapped with the conductive layers of FIG. 9B. As shown in FIGS. 28Aand 28B, the first connecting part CP1 may include third verticalportions CP1-C1 and CP1-C2 disposed on the thin film encapsulation layerTFE and third horizontal portions CP1-L connecting the third verticalportions CP1-C1 and CP1-C2. FIG. 28A shows two third vertical portionsCP1-C1 and CP1-C2, but the number of the third vertical portions shouldnot be limited to two.

The second connecting part CP2 may include fourth horizontal portionsCP2-L1 and CP2-L2 disposed on a color filter layer TS-CF and fourthvertical portions CP2-C connecting the fourth horizontal portions CP2-L1and CP2-L2. The color filter layer TS-CF shown in FIG. 28B may include aplurality of color filters. A boundary between the color filters may besubstantially the same as that shown in FIGS. 26B, 26C, 26D, and 26E.The first connecting part CP1 and the second connecting part CP2 mayhave a mesh shape. The black matrix TS-BM may cover the fourthhorizontal portions CP2-L1 and CP2-L2 and the fourth vertical portionsCP2-C.

FIG. 28B shows a layer structure corresponding to FIGS. 26B and 27B, butit is not limited thereto. A cross-sectional view corresponding to theconnecting parts CP1 and CP2 of the touch screen TS may be changed tothe shape shown in FIGS. 26C, 26D, and 26E.

FIGS. 29A and 29B are cross-sectional views showing a portion of adisplay device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure along sectional line VI-VI′ of FIG. 16A. Each of FIGS. 29Aand 29B corresponds to FIG. 16D.

Referring to FIG. 29A, a second auxiliary electrode STE2 and a firstsensing part SP1 may be connected to each other through a plurality ofauxiliary contact holes SCH. The auxiliary contact holes SCH may beformed penetrating through corresponding color filters CF among aplurality of color filters. A portion of the auxiliary contact holes SCHmay partially penetrates the color filters CF adjacent to each other. Inthe present exemplary embodiment, the thin film encapsulation layer TFEprovides the flat base surface BS, but another layer, such as a bufferlayer, may provide the base surface BS according to another embodiment.Although not shown separately, the color filter CF and the black matrixTS-BM shown in FIG. 29A may be changed to the shape shown in FIGS. 26Cand 26D.

FIG. 29B shows a structure corresponding to that shown in FIG. 26E.First and second black matrices TS-BM1 and TS-BM2 may be disposed on thebase surface BS. An auxiliary contact hole SCH-1 may be formed topenetrate through a corresponding color filter CF and a correspondingfirst black matrix TS-BM1.

Although not shown separately, the display device according to thepresent exemplary embodiment may include one-layer electrostaticcapacitive touch screen as described with reference to FIGS. 14A, 14B,14C, and 14D. The one-layer electrostatic capacitive touch screen TS mayinclude color filters CF as described with reference to FIGS. 26A, 26B,26C, 26D, 26E, 27A, 27B, 27C, 27D, 27E, 28A, and 28B.

As described above, the color filters may serve as an insulating layerof the touch screen, and thus the display device may become slimmer. Thecolor filters may filter the external light to reduce the reflectance ofthe external light. Since the touch electrodes have the mesh shape, thetensile stress and the compressive stress applied to the touchelectrodes may be reduced, and thus the touch electrodes may beprevented from cracking.

FIG. 30A is a cross-sectional view showing a flexible display device ina first operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 30B is a cross-sectional view showing a flexibledisplay device in a second operation according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS. 30C, 30D, and 30E arecross-sectional views showing a display device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. In FIGS. 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, and30E, detailed descriptions of the same elements as those described abovewill be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 30A and 30B, a display device DD according to thepresent exemplary embodiment may include a display panel DP, a touchscreen TS, and a window member WM. In the present exemplary embodiment,the touch screen TS may be manufactured with the display panel throughsuccessive processes. The touch screen TS may include color filters. Thewindow member WM may be coupled to the touch screen TS by an opticallyclear adhesive OCA.

FIGS. 30C, 30D, and 30E show flexible display devices DD-1, DD-2, andDD-3 according to an exemplary embodiment different from the flexibledisplay device shown in FIGS. 30A and 30B. As shown in FIG. 30C, thewindow member WM may be omitted. The window member WM may be integrallyformed with the touch screen TS. In this case, the touch screen TS mayinclude at least one hard coating layer to enhance a surface strengththereof. As shown in FIGS. 30D and 30E, the touch screen TS may becoupled to the display panel DP by the optically clear adhesive OCA.

FIGS. 31A, 31B, 31C, and 31D are cross-sectional views showing a displaydevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.Display panels DP, DP1, and DP2 are schematically shown in FIGS. 31A, 31b, 31C, and 31D. Hereinafter, similarities and differences between thedisplay devices will be described with reference to FIGS. 31A, 31B, 31C,and 31D.

As shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B, a touch screen TS may include a firstconductive layer TS-CL1, a first insulating layer TS-ILL a secondconductive layer TS-CL2, a second insulating layer TS-IL2, a thirdconductive layer TS-CL3, and a third insulating layer TS-IL3. The touchscreen TS may be directly disposed on each of the display panels DP andDP1. Each of the first conductive layer TS-CL1, the second conductivelayer TS-CL2, and the third conductive layer TS-CL3 may have asingle-layer structure or a multi-layer structure of layers stacked in athird direction DR3. The conductive layer having the multi-layerstructure may include a transparent conductive layer and at least onemetal layer. The transparent conductive layer may include indium tinoxide, indium zinc oxide, zinc oxide, indium tin zinc oxide, PEDOT,metal nanowire, and graphene. The metal layer may include at least oneof molybdenum, silver, titanium, copper, and aluminum. In addition, themetal layer may include an alloy of at least one of molybdenum, silver,titanium, copper, and aluminum.

Each of the first conductive layer TS-CL1, the second conductive layerTS-CL2, and the third conductive layer TS-CL3 may include a plurality ofpatterns. Hereinafter, the first conductive layer TS-CL1 may includefirst conductive patterns, the second conductive layer TS-CL2 mayinclude second conductive patterns, and the third conductive layerTS-CL3 may include third conductive patterns. The first conductivepatterns may be a conductive layer (hereinafter, referred to as a noiseshielding conductive layer) to shield a noise generated by the displaypanel DP. The noise shielding conductive layer may be a floatingelectrode layer or may receive a ground voltage. The second conductivepatterns and the third conductive patterns may include touch electrodesand touch signal lines to sense an external input.

In the present exemplary embodiment, one insulating layer of the firstand second insulating layers TS-IL1 and TS-IL2 includes at least a colorfilter layer. The color filter layer may include a plurality of colorfilters. The color filters may be an organic pattern formed by pigmentor dye. The color filters may include a plurality of color filtergroups. The color filters may include red color filters, green colorfilters, and blue color filters.

One insulating layer of the first and second insulating layers TS-IL1and TS-IL2 may further include a black matrix. The black matrix mayinclude an organic material as its base material. The black matrix mayinclude a black pigment or dye.

In the present exemplary embodiment, each of the first insulating layerTS-IL1 and the second insulating layer TS-IL2 includes an inorganicmaterial layer or an organic material layer. The inorganic materiallayer may be a planarization layer to provide a substantially flatsurface. The inorganic material layer may include silicon oxide orsilicon nitride. The organic material layer may include at least one ofan acryl-based resin, a methacryl-based resin, a polyisoprene, avinyl-based resin, an epoxy-based resin, an urethane-based resin, acellulose-based resin, and a perylene-based resin.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the insulating layer TS-IL3 mayfurther include a black matrix. The black matrix may include an organicmaterial having high light absorbance as its base material. The blackmatrix may include substantially black pigment or dye.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the third insulating layer TS-IL3may further include at least one of the inorganic material layer and theorganic material layer. In particular, the third insulating layer TS-IL3may include the organic material layer to provide a substantially flatsurface. The inorganic material layer may include silicon oxide orsilicon nitride. The organic material layer may include at least one ofan acryl-based resin, a methacryl-based resin, a polyisoprene, avinyl-based resin, an epoxy-based resin, an urethane-based resin, acellulose-based resin, and a perylene-based resin. In the presentexemplary embodiment, at least one of the first, second, and thirdinsulating layers TS-IL1, TS-IL2, and TS-IL3 may further include a hardcoating layer. Accordingly, the touch screen TS may replace the windowmember. In the present exemplary embodiment, the hard coating layerincludes a silicon-based polymer, but it should not be limited theretoor thereby.

As shown in FIG. 31A, the first conductive layer TS-CL1 may be disposedon a thin film encapsulation layer TFE. In other words, the thin filmencapsulation layer TFE may provide a base surface BS on which the touchscreen TS may be disposed.

The display panel DP1 shown in FIG. 31B may further include a bufferlayer BFL disposed on the thin film encapsulation layer TFE whencompared with the display panel DP shown in FIG. 31A. The buffer layerBFL may provide the base surface BS. The buffer layer BFL may be anorganic layer and may include any material determined in accordance withits purpose. The buffer layer BFL may be an organic layer and/or aninorganic layer to match a refractive index.

As shown in FIG. 31C, a touch screen TS1 may be coupled to the displaypanel DP by an optically clear adhesive OCA. The touch screen TS1 mayfurther include a base member TS-BS on which a first conductive layerTS-CL1 and a first insulating layer TS-IL1 may be disposed.

As shown in FIG. 31D, a touch screen TS2 may include second and thirdconductive layers TS-CL2 and TS-CL3, and each of the second and thirdconductive layers TS-CL2 and TS-CL3 may include touch electrodes andtouch signal lines. The first conductive layer TS-CL1 shielding thenoise is omitted from the touch panel TS2, and the display panel DP2further may include a noise shielding conductive layer DP-NSPL. Thenoise shielding conductive layer DP-NSPL may be disposed on the thinfilm encapsulation layer TFE.

FIGS. 32A and 32B are plan views showing conductive layers of a touchscreen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIGS. 32C and 32D are plan views showing a noise shielding conductivelayer of a touch screen according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a two-layer electrostaticcapacitive touch screen will be described in detail. The two-layerelectrostatic capacitive touch screen may obtain coordinate informationof a position at which a touch event occurs by a self-capacitance modeor a mutual capacitance mode, but the driving method of obtaining thecoordinate information in the touch screen is not thereto.

As shown in FIG. 32A, first conductive patterns may include first touchelectrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and first touch signal lines SL1-1,SL1-2, and SL1-3. For example, FIG. 32A shows three first touchelectrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and first touch signal lines SL1-1,SL1-2, and SL1-3 connected to the three first touch electrodes TE1-1,TE1-2, and TE1-3.

The first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 may extend in a firstdirection DR1 and may be arranged in a second direction DR2. Each of thefirst touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 may have a mesh shapethrough which a plurality of touch openings is defined. The touchopenings may correspond to a plurality of light emitting areas PXA-R,PXA-G, and PXA-B (see to FIG. 5). The mesh shape will be described indetail later.

Each of the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 may include aplurality of first sensing parts SP1 and a plurality of first connectingparts CP1. The first sensing parts SP1 may be arranged in the firstdirection DR1. Each of the first connecting parts CP1 may connect twofirst sensing parts SP1 adjacent to each other among the first sensingparts SP1.

The first touch signal lines SL1-1, SL1-2, and SL1-3 may have the meshshape. The first touch signal lines SL1-1, SL1-2, and SL1-3 may have thesame layer structure as that of the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2,and TE1-3.

Referring to FIG. 32B, the second conductive patterns may include secondtouch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 and second touch signal linesSL2-1, SL2-2, and SL2-3. For example, FIG. 32B shows three second touchelectrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 and the second touch signal linesSL2-1, SL2-2, and SL2-3 connected to the second touch electrodes TE2-1,TE2-2, and TE2-3.

The second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 may be insulatedfrom the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 while crossingthe first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3. Each of the secondtouch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 may have a mesh shape throughwhich a plurality of touch openings may be defined.

Each of the second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 may includea plurality of second sensing parts SP2 and a plurality of secondconnecting parts CP2. The second sensing parts SP2 may be arranged inthe second direction DR2. Each of the second connecting parts CP2 mayconnect two second sensing parts SP2 adjacent to each other among thesecond sensing parts SP2.

The second touch signal lines SL2-1, SL2-2, and SL2-3 may have the meshshape. The second touch signal lines SL2-1, SL2-2, and SL2-3 may havethe same layer structure as that of the second touch electrodes TE2-1,TE2-2, and TE2-3.

The first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 may be capacitivelycoupled to the second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3. Whensensing signals are applied to the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2,and TE1-3, capacitors may be formed between the first sensing parts SP1and the second sensing parts SP2.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the connecting parts correspond toportions at which the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3cross the second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3, and thesensing parts correspond to portions at which the first touch electrodesTE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 are not overlapped with the second touchelectrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3. Each of the first touch electrodesTE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and each of the second touch electrodes TE2-1,TE2-2, and TE2-3 may have a bar shape with a predetermined width.However, the shapes of the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, andTE1-3 and the second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3, whichinclude the sensing part and the connecting part, are not limitedthereto.

As shown in FIG. 32C, the noise shielding conductive layer NSPL may beoverlapped with the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 andthe second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3. For example, thenoise shielding conductive layer NSPL includes first shielding partsNSP1 overlapped with the first sensing parts SP1, second shielding partsNSP2 overlapped with the second sensing parts SP2, and third shieldingparts NCP overlapped with the first connecting parts CP1 and the secondconnecting parts CP2. The noise shielding conductive layer NSPL may havea mesh shape through which a plurality of shielding openings may bedefined. The shielding openings may correspond to the light emittingareas PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B (refer to FIG. 5). Each of the firstshielding parts NSP1, the second shielding parts NSP1, and the thirdshielding parts NCP may be defined as mesh lines.

As shown in FIG. 32D, a noise shielding conductive layer NSPL-1 may havea shape irrelevant to that of the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2,and TE1-3 and the second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3. Thenoise shielding conductive layer NSPL-1 may have a quadrangular shapethrough which a plurality of shielding openings may be defined.

FIG. 33A is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “GG” of FIG.32A. FIGS. 33B, 33C, 33D, 33E, 33F, 33G, 33H, 33I, and 33J arecross-sectional views showing a portion of FIG. 33A according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure along line XI-XI′. FIG.34A is a partially enlarged view of a portion “HH” of FIG. 32B. FIG. 34Bis a cross-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 34A according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure along line XII-XII′. FIG.35A is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “JJ” of FIGS. 32A and32B. FIG. 35B is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 35Aalong line XIII-XIII′ FIGS. 33B, 33C, 33D, 33E, 33F, 33G, 33H, 33I, 33J,34B, and 35B show the cross-sectional views of the display devicewithout the window member WM. The circuit layer DP-CL is schematicallyshown as a single layer in FIGS. 33B, 33E, 33F, 33G, 33H, 33I, 33J, 34B,and 35B.

As shown in FIG. 33A, a first sensing part SP1 may overlap with anon-light emitting area NPXA, which may be adjacent to the lightemitting areas PXA. The first sensing part SP1 may include a pluralityof first vertical portions SP1-C extending in a first direction DR1 anda plurality of first horizontal portions SP1-L extending in a seconddirection DR2. The first vertical portions SP1-C and the firsthorizontal portions SP1-L may be defined as mesh lines.

The first vertical portions SP1-C may be connected to the firsthorizontal portions SP1-L to form a plurality of touch openings TS-OP.In other words, the first sensing part SP1 may have the mesh shapedefined by the touch openings TS-OP. In the present exemplaryembodiment, the touch openings TS-OP correspond to the light emittingareas PXA in a one-to-one correspondence, but they are not limitedthereto. One touch opening TS-OP may correspond to two or more lightemitting areas PXA. That is, two or more light emitting areas PXA may bedisposed inside the one touch opening TS-OP.

As shown in FIG. 33B, a thin film encapsulation layer TFE may provide abase surface BS. A first shielding part NSP1 may be disposed on the basesurface BS to overlap with the non-light emitting area NPXA. The firstshielding part NSP1 may have a mesh shape through which a shieldingopening NSP-OP is defined.

A first over coating layer TS-OC1 may be disposed on the base surface BSto cover the first shielding part NSP1 and to provide a firstsubstantially flat surface FS1. The first over coating layer TS-OC1corresponds to the first insulating layer TS-IL1 described withreference to FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C and is an organic material layer.

The first sensing part SP1 may be disposed on the first over coatinglayer TS-OC1 and may overlap with the first shielding part NSP1. Colorfilters CF may be disposed above the first over coating layer TS-OC1 tocover the first sensing part SP1. The color filters CF may be disposedto correspond to the light emitting areas PXA, respectively. The colorfilters CF may be the organic material layer included in the secondinsulating layer TS-IL2 described with reference to FIGS. 31A, 31B, and31C.

Each of the color filters CF may include a center portion CF-C and anedge portion CF-E. The center portion CF-C may overlap with acorresponding light emitting area among the light emitting areas PXA.The edge portion CF-E may extend from the center portion CF-C, overlapwith the non-light emitting area NPXA, and cover a first horizontalportion SP1-L of the first sensing part SP1. Although not shownseparately, when viewed in a plan view, the edge portion CF-E maysurround the center portion CF-C in each of the color filters CF.

Among the color filters CF shown in the present exemplary embodiment, aleft color filter is a red color filter, and a right color filter is agreen color filter. The edge portion CF-E of each of color filters CFadjacent to each other may contact the first horizontal portion SP1-Land cover the first horizontal portion SP1-L. The edge portions CF-E ofthe color filters CF may partially cover the first horizontal portionSP1-L and may completely cover the first conductive pattern incooperation with an adjacent color filters CF.

A black matrix TS-BM may be disposed on the color filters CF to overlapwith the non-light emitting area NPXA. The black matrix TS-BM may be anorganic material layer included in the third insulating layer TS-IL3described with reference to FIGS. 31A, 31B, and 31C. As shown in FIG.33B, the black matrix TS-BM may be directly disposed on the colorfilters CF. The black matrix TS-BM may include a plurality oftransmitting openings BM-OP defined therethrough and which correspond tolight emitting areas PXA.

The light emitting areas PXA may have substantially the same shape asthat of the transmitting openings BM-OP when viewed in a plan view. Inother words, the black matrix TS-BM may have substantially the sameshape as that of the non-light emitting area NPXA. That is, the blackmatrix TS-BM may have the same widths as those of the non-light emittingarea NPXA in the first and second directions DR1 and DR2. However, thepresent inventive concept is not limited thereto. That is, the lightemitting areas PXA may have a shape different from that of thetransmitting openings BM-OP. When viewed in a plan view, the firstshielding part NSP1 and the first horizontal part SP1-L may be disposedinside the black matrix TS-BM.

The color filters CF may allow transmission of the light generated by anorganic light emitting devices OLED and reduce the reflectance of theexternal light. In addition, an amount of the external light may bereduced to about ⅓ while passing through the color filters CF. A portionof the light may become extinct while passing through the color filtersCF, and the light may be partially reflected by the organic lightemitting device layer DP-OLED and the thin film encapsulation layer TFE.The reflected light may be incident to the color filters CF. An amountof the reflected light may be reduced to about ⅓ while passing throughthe color filters CF. Consequently, only a portion of the external lightmay be reflected by the display device.

FIGS. 33C and 33D show the enlarged view of the non-light emitting areaNPXA shown in FIG. 33B. In FIGS. 33C and 33D, components disposed underthe base surface BS are not shown. As shown in FIG. 33C, the edgeportion CF-E of the left color filter may completely cover the firsthorizontal portion SP1-L. The edge portion CF-E of the right colorfilter may be disposed on the edge portion CF-E of the left colorfilter. The shape of the boundary between the color filters disposed inthe non-light emitting area NPXA may be changed in accordance with theorder of forming the left and right color filters. The first horizontalportion SP1-L may have a first line width W1 and the first shieldingpart NSP1 may have a second line width W2 that is greater than the firstline width W1. The first horizontal portion SP1-L may be disposed insidethe first shielding part NSP1.

As shown in FIG. 33D, the first black matrix TS-BM1 may be disposed onthe first flat surface FS1 and overlap with the first horizontal partSP1-L. The color filters may be disposed on the first flat surface FS1.The edge portion CF-E of the right color filter and the edge portionCF-E of the left color filter may partially expose the first blackmatrix TS-BM1. The edge portions CF-E of the color filters may beomitted. That is, the color filters may be disposed only inside thetransmitting openings BM-OP of the black matrix TS-BM.

A second over coating layer TS-OC2 may be disposed on the left colorfilter and the right color filter. The second over coating layer TS-OC2may provide a second flat surface FS2. The second over coating layerTS-OC2 may be the organic material layer included in the secondinsulating layer TS-IL2 described with reference to FIGS. 31A, 31B, and31C.

As shown in FIG. 33E, a first shielding part NSP1 may be disposed on abase surface BS to overlap with a non-light emitting area NPXA. Colorfilters CF may be disposed on the base surface BS to cover the firstshielding part NSP1. A first horizontal part SP1-L may be disposed onthe color filters CF. An over coating layer TS-OC may be disposed on thecolor filters CF. A black matrix TS-BM may be disposed on the flatsurface FS of the over coating layer TS-OC. Additional over coatinglayer may be further disposed on the color filters CF.

As shown in FIG. 33F, a first black matrix TS-BM1 may be disposed oncolor filters CF to cover a first horizontal part SP1-L. The first blackmatrix TS-BM1 may define first transmitting openings BM-OP1. An overcoating layer TS-OC may be disposed on the color filters to cover thefirst black matrix TS-BM1. A second black matrix TS-BM2 may be disposedon the flat surface FS of the over coating layer TS-OC. The second blackmatrix TS-BM2 may define second transmitting openings BM-OP2.

As shown in FIGS. 33G and 33H, a touch screen TS may further include atleast one hard coating layer TS-HC, TS-HC1, TS-HC2, and TS-HC3. Thetouch screen TS shown in FIG. 33G may further include a second overcoating layer TS-OC2 and a hard coating layer TS-HC disposed on a secondflat surface FS2 when compared with the touch screen TS shown in FIG.33B.

Due to the hard coating layer TS-HC disposed on second flat surface FS2,a hardness of the second over coating layer TS-OC may be enhanced, andthus the window member WM may be omitted. Since the window member WM maybe integrally formed with the touch screen TS, the display device maybecome slimmer.

A touch screen TS shown in FIG. 33H may further include first, second,and third hard coating layers TS-HC1, TS-HC2, and TS-HC3. The first hardcoating layer TS-HC1 may be disposed between a first over coating layerTS-OC1 and a color filter layer including color filters CF, the secondhard coating layer TS-HC2 may be disposed between the color filter layerand a black matrix TS-BM, and the third hard coating layer TS-HC3 may bedisposed at an uppermost position of the touch screen TS. The touchscreen TS of FIGS. 33G and 33H may further include the hard coatinglayer when compared with the touch screen TS of FIG. 33B, but it is notlimited thereto.

As shown in FIG. 33I, a first shielding part NSP1 (e.g., noise shieldingconductive layers NSPL and NSPL-1) (see FIGS. 32C and 32D) may bedisposed on a buffer layer BFL of a display panel DP-1. FIG. 33I showsthe touch screen TS of FIG. 33B as an example, but the structure of thetouch screen TS is not limited thereto.

Although not shown separately, the touch screen shown in FIGS. 33B, 33C,33D, 33E, 33F, 33G, 33H, and 33I may further include a base member. Whenthe base member is coupled to the display panel by an optically clearadhesive, the display device shown in FIG. 31C may be realized.

FIG. 33J shows the display device shown in FIG. 31D in detail. As shownin FIG. 33J, a display panel may include noise shielding conductivelayers NSPL and NSPL-1 (see to FIGS. 32C and 32D). FIG. 33J shows thefirst shielding part NSP1 as a portion of the noise shielding conductivelayer. The first shielding part NSP1 may be disposed on the base surfaceBS. The optically clear adhesive OCA may be disposed on the base surfaceBS, and the base member TS-BS may be disposed on the optically clearadhesive OCA.

FIG. 33J shows a touch screen TS having substantially the same layerstructure as that of the touch screen TS shown in FIG. 33B. However, thestructure of the touch screen TS is not limited thereto.

As shown in FIGS. 34A and 34B, a second sensing part SP2 may overlapwith a non-light emitting area NPXA. The second sensing part SP2 mayinclude a plurality of second vertical portions SP2-C extending in afirst direction DR1 and a plurality of second horizontal portions SP2-Lextending in a second direction DR2.

The second vertical portions SP2-C may be connected to the secondhorizontal portions SP2-L to form a plurality of touch openings TS-OP.In other words, the second sensing part SP2 may have a mesh shape.

As shown in FIG. 34B, color filters CF may be disposed on a first flatsurface FS1. Edges CF-E of the color filters CF adjacent to each othermay contact each other. The second vertical portions SP2-C may bedisposed on the color filters CF. A black matrix TS-BM disposed on thecolor filters CF may cover second conductive patterns (e.g., the secondvertical portions SP2-C).

FIG. 34B shows a cross-sectional view of a portion “HH” corresponding toFIG. 34A. According to another exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the cross-sectional view of the portion “HH” may have thestructures shown in FIGS. 33C, 33D, 33E, 33F, 33G, 33H, 33I, and 33J.However, in the exemplary cross-sectional view of the portion “HH”, thefirst horizontal portions SP1-L are omitted, and the second verticalportions SP2-C are disposed.

As shown in FIGS. 35A and 35B, a first connecting part CP1 may includethird vertical portions CP1-C1 and CP1-C2 disposed on a first overcoating layer TS-OC1 and third horizontal portions CP1-L connecting thethird vertical portions CP1-C1 and CP1-C2 to each other. FIG. 35A showstwo third vertical portions CP1-C1 and CP1-C2, but the number of thethird vertical portions should not be limited to two.

A second connecting part CP2 may include fourth horizontal portionsCP2-L1 and CP2-L2 disposed on a color filter layer TS-CF and fourthvertical portions CP2-C connecting the fourth horizontal portions CP2-L1and CP2-L2 to each other. The first and second connecting parts CP1 andCP2 have a mesh shape.

Although not shown in FIG. 35A, a third shielding part NCP is disposedon a base surface BS as shown in FIG. 35B. The third shielding part NCPis overlapped with the first and second connecting parts CP1 and CP2.The first over coating layer TS-OC1 covers the third shielding part NCP.

FIGS. 35A and 35B show a layer structure corresponding to FIGS. 33B and34B, but the layer structure is not limited thereto. The cross-sectionalstructure corresponding to the connecting parts CP1 and CP2 of the touchscreen TS may be changed to those shown in FIGS. 33C, 33D, 33E, 33F,33G, 33H, 33I, and 33J.

As described with reference to FIGS. 33A, 33B, 33C, 33D, 33E, 33F, 33G,33H, 33I, 33J, 34A, 34B, 35A, and 35B, the first touch electrodes TE1-1,TE1-2, and TE1-3, the second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3,the first shielding parts NSP1, the second shielding parts NSP2, and thethird shielding parts NCP may have the mesh shape, and thus theflexibility of the flexible display device DD may be improved. When theflexible display device DD is bent as shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B, thetensile stress and the compressive stress, which are applied to thefirst touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and the second touchelectrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 may be reduced, and the first touchelectrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and the second touch electrodesTE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 may be prevented from being cracked.

Since the insulating layers of the touch screen TS may include the colorfilters CF, the display device may become slimmer. In addition, sincethe first, second, and third shielding parts NSP1, NSP2, and NCP areapplied to the image sensor, the noise generated in the first touchelectrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and the second touch electrodesTE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 may be reduced even though the first touchelectrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and the second touch electrodesTE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 are disposed adjacent to the circuit layer DP-CLand the organic light emitting device layer DP-OLED. Accordingly, atouch sensitivity of the image sensor may be improved.

FIGS. 36A and 36B are plan views showing conductive layers of a touchscreen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 36C is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “MM” of FIGS.36A and 36B. FIG. 36D is a cross-sectional view showing a portion ofFIG. 36C along line XIV-XIV′. In FIGS. 36A, 36B, 36C, and 36D, detaileddescriptions of the same elements as those described above will beomitted.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a one-layer electrostaticcapacitive touch screen will be described in detail. The one-layerelectrostatic capacitive touch screen may be operated in aself-capacitance mode to obtain the coordinate information, but thedriving method of the touch screen is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 36A, first conductive patterns may include first touchelectrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3, first touch signal lines SL1-1,SL1-2, and SL1-3, second sensing parts SP2 of second touch electrodesTE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3, and second touch signal lines SL2-1, SL2-2, andSL2-3. Each of the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 mayinclude a plurality of first sensing parts SP1 and a plurality of firstconnecting parts CP1.

The first sensing parts SP1, the first connecting parts CP1, and thesecond sensing parts SP2 may be disposed on the same layer. Although notshown in the figures, each of the portion “KK” and the portion “LL” mayhave the structure shown in FIGS. 33B, 33C, 33D, 33E, 33F, 33G, 33H,33I, and 33J in a cross-sectional view.

Referring to FIG. 36B, second conductive patterns may include aplurality of second connecting parts CP2 of the second touch electrodesTE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3. The second connecting parts CP2 may have abridge function.

Referring to FIGS. 36C and 36D, the second connecting part CP2 mayelectrically connect two second sensing parts SP2 adjacent to each otherin the second direction DR2 among the second sensing parts SP2 throughfirst and second contact holes TS-CH1 and TS-CH2 formed through a colorfilter layer TS-CF.

Although not shown in FIG. 36C, a third shielding part NCP may bedisposed on a base surface BS as shown in FIG. 36D. The third shieldingpart NCP may overlap with the first and second connecting parts CP1 andCP2. The first over coating layer TS-OC1 may cover the third shieldingpart NCP.

FIGS. 36C and 36D show a layer structure corresponding to FIGS. 33B and34B, but the layer structure is not limited thereto. The cross-sectionalstructure corresponding to the connecting parts CP1 and CP2 of the touchscreen TS may be changed to those shown in FIGS. 33C, 33D, 33E, 33F,33G, 33H, 33I, and to 33J.

FIGS. 37A and 37B are plan views showing conductive layers of a touchscreen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 38A is a partially enlarged view showing a portion “NN” of FIGS.37A and 37B. FIG. 38B is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 38A. FIGS.38C and 38D are partially cross-sectional views of FIG. 38A. In FIGS.37A, 37B, 38A, 38B, 38C, and 38D, detailed descriptions of the sameelements as those described above will be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 37A and 37B, first conductive patterns may includefirst touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and first auxiliaryelectrodes STE1. Each of the first touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, andTE1-3 may include a plurality of first sensing parts SP1 and a pluralityof first connecting parts CP1. Second conductive patterns may includesecond touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 and second auxiliaryelectrodes STE1. Each of the second touch electrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, andTE2-3 may include a plurality of second sensing parts SP2 and aplurality of second connecting parts CP2.

Each of the first auxiliary electrodes STE1 may overlap with acorresponding second sensing part among the second sensing parts SP2,and each of the second auxiliary electrodes STE2 may overlap with acorresponding first sensing part among the first sensing parts SP1. Thefirst and second auxiliary electrodes STE1 and STE2 may have a meshshape. Each of the first auxiliary electrodes STE1 may be electricallyconnected to the corresponding second sensing part, and each of thesecond auxiliary electrodes STE2 may be electrically connected to thecorresponding first sensing part. Accordingly, a resistance of the firsttouch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and the second touch electrodesTE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 may be reduced, and the touch sensitivity of thefirst touch electrodes TE1-1, TE1-2, and TE1-3 and the second touchelectrodes TE2-1, TE2-2, and TE2-3 may be improved.

The combination of the first sensing parts SP1, the first connectingparts CP1, and the second auxiliary electrodes STE2 may be defined asthe first touch electrode. The first sensing parts SP1 may correspond toa lower sensing part of the first touch electrode, the first connectingparts CP1 may correspond to lower connecting parts, and the secondauxiliary electrodes STE2 may correspond to an upper sensing part.Similarly, the combination of the second sensing parts SP2, the secondconnecting parts CP2, and the first auxiliary electrodes STE1 may bedefined as the second touch electrode.

FIGS. 38A and 38B show a connection relation between the secondauxiliary electrode STE2 and the first sensing part SP1 in detail. Thefirst sensing part SP1 may be represented by a dotted line, and thesecond auxiliary electrode STE2 may be represented by a solid line. InFIGS. 38A and 38B, the second auxiliary electrode STE2 may have a linewidth greater than a line width of the first sensing part SP1, but it isnot limited thereto. The second auxiliary electrode STE2 and the firstsensing part SP1 may have the same line width. The second auxiliaryelectrode STE2 may overlap with the first sensing part SP1 and notoverlap with the first connecting part CP1.

As shown in FIGS. 38C and 38D, the second auxiliary electrode STE2 andthe first sensing part SP1 may be connected to each other through aplurality of contact holes SCH. Although not shown in FIGS. 38A and 38B,a third shielding part NCP may be disposed on a base surface BS as shownin FIGS. 38C and 38D. The third shielding part NCP may overlap with thefirst sensing part SP1 and the second auxiliary electrode STE2. Thefirst over coating layer TS-OC1 may cover the third shielding part NCP.The first sensing part SP1 may be disposed on the first over coatinglayer TS-OC1.

FIGS. 38C and 38D show a layer structure corresponding to FIGS. 33B and34B, but the layer structure is not limited thereto. The cross-sectionalstructure corresponding to the portion “NN” of the touch screen TS maybe changed to those shown in FIGS. 33C, 33D, 33E, 33F, 33G, 33H, 33I,and 33J. As described above, since the noise shielding layer is disposedto overlap with the first and second conductive patterns, the first andsecond conductive patterns may be prevented from being interfered withby the noise generated from the display panel. In addition, since thetouch electrodes may have the mesh shape, the tensile stress and thecompressive stress, which are applied to the touch electrodes, may bereduced and the touch electrodes may be prevented from being cracked.Further, the color filters may filter the external light, and thus thereflectance of the external light may be reduced. The insulating layerof the touch screen may include color filters, and thus the displaydevice may become slimmer.

Although certain exemplary embodiments and implementations have beendescribed herein, other embodiments and modifications will be apparentfrom this description. Accordingly, the inventive concept is not limitedto such embodiments, but rather to the broader scope of the presentedclaims and various obvious modifications and equivalent arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flexible display device, comprising: a displaypanel providing a base surface and comprising a plurality of lightemitting areas and a non-light emitting area disposed adjacent to thelight emitting areas; and a touch screen disposed on the base surface,the touch screen comprising: a plurality of first conductive patternsdisposed on the base surface and overlapped with the non-light emittingarea; a first insulating layer disposed on the base surface, coveringthe first conductive patterns, and comprising a plurality of firstopenings defined to correspond to the light emitting areas; a pluralityof second conductive patterns disposed on the first insulating layer andoverlapped with the non-light emitting area; and a second insulatinglayer disposed on the first insulating layer, covering the secondconductive patterns, and comprising a plurality of second openingsdefined to correspond to the light emitting areas.
 2. The flexibledisplay device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of firstconductive patterns and each of the plurality of second conductivepatterns have a mesh shape through which a plurality of openings isdefined.
 3. The flexible display device of claim 1, wherein theplurality of first conductive patterns comprise a plurality of firsttouch electrodes extending in a first direction and arranged in a seconddirection crossing the first direction, and each of the plurality offirst touch electrodes comprises a plurality of touch openings definedby the plurality of first touch electrodes.
 4. The flexible displaydevice of claim 3, wherein the second conductive patterns comprise aplurality of second touch electrodes extending in the second directionand arranged in the first direction, and each of the plurality of secondtouch electrodes comprises a plurality of touch openings defined by thesecond touch electrodes.
 5. The flexible display device claim 3, whereineach of the plurality of first touch electrodes comprise a plurality offirst sensing parts arranged in the first direction and a plurality offirst connecting parts each connecting two first sensing parts adjacentto each other among the plurality of first sensing parts, and theplurality of first conductive patterns further comprise a plurality ofsecond sensing parts disposed adjacent to the plurality of first sensingparts.
 6. The flexible display device of claim 5, wherein each of theplurality of second conductive patterns comprise a plurality of secondconnecting parts connecting two second sensing parts adjacent to eachother in the second direction among the plurality of second sensingparts through contact holes defined through the first insulating layer.7. The flexible display device of claim 1, wherein the display panelcomprises: a base substrate; a circuit layer disposed on the basesubstrate; an organic light emitting device layer disposed on thecircuit layer; and a thin film encapsulation layer encapsulating theorganic light emitting device layer.
 8. The flexible display device ofclaim 7, wherein the thin film encapsulation layer provides the basesurface.
 9. The flexible display device of claim 8, wherein the thinfilm encapsulation layer comprises: a lower inorganic thin film layerconfigured to contact with the organic light emitting device layer; aplurality of organic thin film layers disposed on the base surface; anda plurality of upper inorganic thin film layers alternately stacked withthe organic thin film layers.
 10. The flexible display device of claim9, wherein the lower inorganic thin film layer comprises at least alithium fluoride layer.
 11. The flexible display device of claim 9,wherein a thin film layer disposed at an uppermost position among theorganic thin film layers and the upper inorganic thin film layersalternately stacked with the organic thin film layers comprise thirdopenings or grooves defined to correspond to the plurality of firstopenings.
 12. The flexible display device of claim 8, wherein thedisplay panel further comprises a buffer layer providing the basesurface.
 13. The flexible display device of claim 12, wherein the bufferlayer comprises a plurality of third openings or grooves defined tocorrespond to the plurality of first openings.
 14. The flexible displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first conductive patternscomprise: a plurality of first touch electrodes comprising a pluralityof touch openings defined to correspond to the plurality of firstopenings; and a plurality of first auxiliary electrodes spaced apartfrom the plurality of first touch electrodes, and the plurality ofsecond conductive patterns comprise: a plurality of second touchelectrodes crossing the plurality of first touch electrodes, comprisinga plurality of touch openings defined to correspond to the plurality offirst openings, each of the plurality of second touch electrodes beingelectrically connected to a corresponding first auxiliary electrode ofthe plurality of first auxiliary electrodes; and a plurality of secondauxiliary electrodes, each being electrically connected to acorresponding first touch electrode among the plurality of first touchelectrodes.
 15. The flexible display device of claim 14, wherein each ofthe plurality of first touch electrodes comprises a plurality of firstsensing parts overlapped with corresponding second auxiliary electrodesamong the plurality of second auxiliary electrodes and a plurality offirst connecting parts each connecting two first sensing parts adjacentto each other among the plurality of first sensing parts, and each ofthe plurality of second touch electrodes comprise a plurality of secondsensing parts overlapped with corresponding first auxiliary electrodesamong the plurality of first auxiliary electrodes and a plurality ofsecond connecting parts each connecting two second sensing partsadjacent to each other among the plurality of second sensing parts. 16.The flexible display device of claim 15, wherein the correspondingsecond auxiliary electrodes are electrically connected to the pluralityof first sensing parts through a plurality of auxiliary contact holesdefined through the first insulating layer.
 17. The flexible displaydevice of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of first auxiliaryelectrodes has a mesh shape, and each of the plurality of secondauxiliary electrodes has a mesh shape.
 18. The flexible display deviceof claim 1, further comprising a plurality of color filters each beingdisposed inside a corresponding first opening among the first openings.19. The flexible display device of claim 18, wherein the secondinsulating layer comprises a plurality of second openings defined tocorrespond to the plurality of light emitting areas.
 20. The flexibledisplay device of claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of colorfilters extends inside the corresponding second opening among theplurality of second openings.
 21. The flexible display device of claim19, wherein each of the first and second insulating layers is a blackmatrix.
 22. The flexible display device of claim 18, wherein the secondinsulating layer is overlapped with the color filters.
 23. The flexibledisplay device of claim 18, further comprising a black matrix layerdisposed on the second insulating layer and comprising a plurality oftransmitting openings defined to correspond to the plurality of lightemitting areas.
 24. A flexible display device, comprising: a displaypanel providing a base surface and comprising a plurality of lightemitting areas and a non-light emitting area disposed adjacent to theplurality of light emitting areas; and a touch screen disposed on thebase surface, the touch screen comprising: a plurality of firstconductive patterns disposed on the base surface and overlapped with thenon-light emitting area; a first black matrix disposed on the basesurface, covering the first conductive patterns, and comprising aplurality of first openings defined to correspond to the plurality oflight emitting areas; a plurality of color filters each being disposedinside a corresponding first opening among the plurality of firstopenings; an insulating layer disposed on the first black matrix and theplurality of color filters and overlapped with the plurality of lightemitting areas and the non-light emitting area; and a plurality ofsecond conductive patterns disposed on the insulating layer andoverlapped with the non-light emitting area.
 25. The flexible displaydevice of claim 24, wherein the plurality of second conductive patternscomprise at least one of chromium oxide, chromium nitride, titaniumoxide, and titanium nitride.
 26. The flexible display device of claim24, further comprising a second black matrix disposed on the insulatinglayer, covering the plurality of second conductive patterns, andoverlapped with the non-light emitting area.
 27. The flexible displaydevice of claim 26, wherein the second black matrix comprises aplurality of second openings defined to correspond to the plurality oflight emitting areas.
 28. The flexible display device of claim 24,wherein an edge of each of the plurality of color filters is overlappedwith the second black matrix.
 29. The flexible display device of claim24, wherein each of the plurality of first conductive patterns and eachof the plurality of second conductive patterns have a mesh shape throughwhich a plurality of openings is defined.
 30. The flexible displaydevice of claim 24, wherein the plurality of first conductive patternscomprise a plurality of first touch electrodes extending in a firstdirection and arranged in a second direction crossing the firstdirection, and each of the plurality of first touch electrodes comprisesa plurality of touch openings defined by the first touch electrodes. 31.The flexible display device of claim 30, wherein the second conductivepatterns comprise a plurality of second touch electrodes extending inthe second direction and arranged in the first direction, and each ofthe plurality of second touch electrodes comprises a plurality of touchopenings defined by the second touch electrodes.
 32. The flexibledisplay device claim 31, wherein each of the plurality of first touchelectrodes has a constant width in the first direction, two first touchelectrodes adjacent to each other among the plurality of first touchelectrodes are spaced apart from each other in the first direction by afirst interval, each of the plurality of second touch electrodes has aconstant width in the second direction, and two second touch electrodesadjacent to each other among the plurality of second touch electrodesare spaced apart from each other in the second direction by a secondinterval greater than the first interval.
 33. The flexible displaydevice claim 32, wherein each of the plurality of first touch electrodescomprises a plurality of first sensing parts arranged in the firstdirection and a plurality of first connecting parts each connecting twofirst sensing parts adjacent to each other among the plurality of firstsensing parts, and the plurality of first conductive patterns furthercomprise a plurality of second sensing parts disposed adjacent to theplurality of first sensing parts.
 34. The flexible display device claim33, wherein the plurality of second conductive patterns comprise aplurality of second connecting parts each connecting two second sensingparts adjacent to each other in the second direction among the pluralityof second sensing parts through a plurality of contact holes defined bythe first black matrix and the insulating layer.
 35. The flexibledisplay device of claim 24, wherein the plurality of first conductivepatterns comprise: a first touch electrodes comprising a plurality oftouch openings defined to correspond to the plurality of first openings;and a plurality of shielding electrodes spaced apart from the pluralityof first touch electrodes, and the plurality of second conductivepatterns comprise a plurality of second touch electrodes crossing theplurality of first touch electrodes, comprising a plurality of touchopenings defined to correspond to the plurality of first openings, andeach being overlapped with a corresponding shielding electrode among theplurality of shielding electrodes.
 36. The flexible display device ofclaim 35, wherein each of the plurality of first touch electrodescomprises a plurality of first sensing parts and a plurality of firstconnecting parts each connecting two first sensing parts adjacent toeach other among the plurality of first sensing parts, and each of theplurality of second touch electrodes comprises a plurality of secondsensing parts each being overlapped with corresponding shieldingelectrodes among the plurality of shielding electrodes and a pluralityof second connecting parts each connecting two second sensing partsadjacent to each other among the plurality of second sensing parts. 37.The flexible display device of claim 35, wherein the plurality ofshielding electrodes receive a ground voltage.
 38. A flexible displaydevice, comprising: a display panel providing a base surface andcomprising a plurality of light emitting areas and a non-light emittingarea disposed adjacent to the light emitting areas; and a touch screendisposed on the base surface, the touch screen comprising: a pluralityof first conductive patterns disposed on the base surface and overlappedwith the non-light emitting area; a plurality of color filters disposedon the base surface, each of the plurality of color filters comprising acenter portion overlapped with a corresponding light emitting area amongthe plurality of light emitting areas and an edge portion extending fromthe center portion, overlapped with the non-light emitting area, andoverlapped with a corresponding first conductive pattern among theplurality of first conductive patterns; a plurality of second conductivepatterns disposed on the plurality of color filters and overlapped withthe non-light emitting area; and a black matrix overlapped with theplurality of non-light emitting area.
 39. The flexible display device ofclaim 38, wherein the edge portion of some color filters among theplurality of color filters makes contact with the first conductivepattern and covers the first conductive pattern.
 40. The flexibledisplay device of claim 38, wherein the black matrix is disposed on theplurality of color filters and covers the second conductive patterns.41. The flexible display device of claim 40, wherein the touch screenfurther comprises an insulating layer covering the plurality of colorfilters, the plurality of second conductive patterns disposed on theinsulating layer, and the black matrix disposed on the insulating layerand covering the plurality of second conductive patterns.
 42. Theflexible display device of claim 38, wherein the black matrix comprises:a first black matrix disposed on the base surface to cover the pluralityof first conductive patterns; and a second black matrix disposed on theplurality of color filters to cover the plurality of second conductivepatterns.
 43. The flexible display device of claim 42, wherein the touchscreen further comprises an insulating layer covering the plurality ofcolor filters, and the second black matrix is disposed on the insulatinglayer.
 44. The flexible display device of claim 38, wherein theplurality of first conductive patterns comprise the plurality of firsttouch electrodes extending in a first direction and arranged in a seconddirection crossing the first direction, and each of the plurality offirst touch electrodes comprises a plurality of touch openings definedby the plurality of first touch electrodes.
 45. The flexible displaydevice of claim 44, wherein each of the plurality of first touchelectrodes comprises a plurality of first sensing parts arranged in thefirst direction and a plurality of first connecting parts eachconnecting two first sensing parts adjacent to each other among theplurality of first sensing parts, and the plurality of first conductivepatterns further comprise a plurality of second sensing parts disposedadjacent to the plurality of first sensing parts.
 46. The flexibledisplay device of claim 45, wherein each of the plurality of secondconductive patterns comprises a plurality of second connecting partsconnecting two second sensing parts adjacent to each other in the seconddirection among the plurality of second sensing parts through aplurality of contact holes defined respectively through thecorresponding color filters among the plurality of color filters. 47.The flexible display device of claim 38, wherein the plurality of colorfilters comprise at least one of a red color filter, green color filter,and blue color filter.
 48. The flexible display device of claim 38,wherein the plurality of color filters comprise a first color filter anda second color filter adjacent to the first color filter, and the edgeportion of the first color filter makes contact with the edge portion ofthe second color filter.
 49. The flexible display device of claim 38,wherein the plurality of color filters comprise a first color filter anda second color filter adjacent to the first color filter, and the edgeportion of the first color filter is overlapped with the edge portion ofthe second color filter.
 50. A flexible display device, comprising: adisplay panel providing a base surface and comprising a plurality oflight emitting areas and a non-light emitting area disposed adjacent tothe plurality of light emitting areas; and a touch screen disposed onthe base surface, the touch screen comprising: a noise shieldingconductive layer disposed on the base surface and overlapped with thenon-light emitting area; a first insulating layer disposed on the basesurface and covering the noise shielding conductive layer; a pluralityof first conductive patterns disposed on the first insulating layer andoverlapped with a portion of the noise shielding conductive layer; asecond insulating layer disposed on the first insulating layer; aplurality of second conductive patterns disposed on the secondinsulating layer and overlapped with a portion of the noise shieldingconductive layer; and a third insulating layer disposed on the secondinsulating layer.
 51. The flexible display device of claim 50, whereinthe first insulating layer comprises a first over coating layerproviding a first flat surface on which the plurality of firstconductive patterns are disposed.
 52. The flexible display device ofclaim 51, wherein the second insulating layer comprises a plurality ofcolor filters each being overlapped with a corresponding light emittingarea among the plurality of light emitting areas.
 53. The flexibledisplay device of claim 52, wherein an edge of each of the plurality ofcolor filters is overlapped with the light emitting area.
 54. Theflexible display device of claim 53, wherein the second insulating layerfurther comprises a second over coating layer covering the plurality ofcolor filters and proving a second flat surface on which the pluralityof second conductive patterns are disposed.
 55. The flexible displaydevice of claim 53, wherein the second insulating layer furthercomprises a black matrix disposed on the first flat surface, coveringthe plurality of first conductive patterns, and comprising a pluralityof openings defined to correspond to the plurality of light emittingareas.
 56. The flexible display device of claim 50, wherein the thirdinsulating layer comprises a black matrix covering the plurality ofsecond conductive patterns and comprising a plurality of openingsdefined to correspond to the plurality of light emitting areas.
 57. Theflexible display device of claim 50, wherein the first insulating layercomprises a plurality of color filters each being overlapped with acorresponding light emitting area among the plurality of light emittingareas.
 58. The flexible display device of claim 57, wherein the secondinsulating layer comprises an over coating layer providing a flatsurface on which the plurality of second conductive patterns aredisposed.
 59. The flexible display device of claim 58, wherein thesecond insulating layer further comprises a black matrix disposed on thecolor filters, covering the first conductive patterns, and comprisingopenings defined therethrough to correspond to the light emitting areas,and the over coating layer covers the black matrix.
 60. The flexibledisplay device of claim 50, wherein at least one of the first, second,and third insulating layers comprises a hard coating layer.
 61. Theflexible display device of claim 50, wherein the noise shieldingconductive layer comprises a plurality of first mesh lines to define aplurality of first openings corresponding to the plurality of lightemitting areas, the plurality of first conductive patterns comprise aplurality of second mesh lines to define a plurality of second openingscorresponding to the plurality of light emitting areas, and theplurality of first mesh lines have a line width greater than a linewidth of the plurality of second mesh lines.
 62. The flexible displaydevice of claim 50, further comprising a window member disposed on thetouch screen, and an optically clear adhesive coupling the window memberand the touch screen, wherein the window member comprises a base memberand a hard coating layer disposed on the base member.
 63. The flexibledisplay device of claim 50, wherein the noise shielding conductive layerreceives a ground voltage.
 64. The flexible display device of claim 50,wherein the display panel comprises: a base substrate; a circuit layerdisposed on the base substrate; an organic light emitting device layerdisposed on the circuit layer; and a thin film encapsulation layerencapsulating the organic light emitting device layer.
 65. The flexibledisplay device of claim 64, wherein the thin film encapsulation layerprovides the base surface.
 66. A flexible display device, comprising: adisplay panel providing a base surface, comprising a plurality of lightemitting areas and a non-light emitting area disposed adjacent to theplurality of light emitting areas, and comprising a noise shieldingconductive layer disposed on the base surface to overlap with thenon-light emitting area; a touch screen disposed on the noise shieldingconductive layer; and an optically clear adhesive member coupling thebase surface and the touch screen, the touch screen comprising: a basemember; a plurality of first conductive patterns disposed on the basemember and overlapped with a portion of the noise shielding conductivelayer; a first insulating layer disposed on the base member to cover theplurality of first conductive patterns; a plurality of second conductivepatterns disposed on the first insulating layer and overlapped with aportion of the noise shielding conductive layer; and a second insulatinglayer disposed on the first insulating layer.
 67. The flexible displaydevice of claim 66, wherein one insulating layer of the first and secondinsulating layers comprises a plurality of color filters each beingoverlapped with a corresponding light emitting area among the pluralityof light emitting areas.
 68. The flexible display device of claim 67,wherein at least one of the first and second insulating layers comprisesa black matrix through which a plurality of openings corresponding tothe plurality of light emitting areas are defined.
 69. The flexibledisplay device of claim 68, wherein each of the noise shieldingconductive layer, the plurality of first conductive patterns, and theplurality of second conductive patterns has a mesh shape through which aplurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of light emittingareas are defined.